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Prostate Cancer
Causes, Natural History & Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States.
Yet, when detected in its early stages, prostate cancer can be effectively treated and
cured.
What is the prostate?
The prostate gland is a small, walnut-sized gland in men. It is located below the bladder and
surrounds the upper portion of the urethra. The prostate gland lies in front of the rectum, and its
posterior surface can be felt during a rectal examination. The function of the prostate is to secrete
a fluid that makes up part of the semen.
What is prostate cancer?
It is the most common non-skin cancer in men affecting approximately 234,000 American men
each year with approximately 27,000 of these men dying each year. Prostate cancer is different
from most cancers in that an appreciable percentage of men, particularly older men with a
shorter life expectancy, may have a silent form of this cancer—it will not cause symptoms or
progress beyond the prostate gland during their lifetime. Sometimes this cancer can be small,
slow growing and present limited risk to the patient. Clinically important prostate cancers can be
defined as those that threaten the well-being or life span of a man.
What are the causes and risks associated with prostate cancer?
Predominately a disease of elderly men, the diagnosis of prostate cancer is rare before age 40
but increases dramatically thereafter. In the United States, it is estimated that one in 55 men
between the ages of 40 and 59 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. This incidence climbs
almost to one in six for men between ages 60 and 79. This association is also reflected in
mortality as prostate cancer accounts for about 10 percent of cancer-related deaths in men
between the ages of 60 and 79 and nearly 25 percent in those over the age of 80.
There are also ethnic determinants of risk. Blacks are in the highest risk group, with an
incidence of more than 200 cases per 100,000 black men. The incidence in Caucasian and
Asian men is slightly more than half that of blacks. In addition, blacks tend to present with more
advanced disease and have poorer overall prognosis than Caucasian or Asian men.
Men with a family history of prostate cancer are at an increased risk of developing the disease.
The risk correlates with the number of first-degree relatives (father, brother or uncle) affected by
prostate cancer and the age at onset. Men with a family history of disease may have a risk of
developing prostate cancer 2 to 11 times greater than men without a family history of prostate
cancer.
There is also considerable evidence showing that prostate cancer is more common in men with
a high intake of fat in their diets. The worldwide difference in prostate cancer incidence may be
associated with dietary intake of soy proteins. In Asian countries such as Japan and the
Republic of Korea where prostate cancer incidence and mortality are just a fraction of that in
North America, soy consumption in the form of tofu, soymilk and miso is up to 90 times higher
than that consumed in the United States. In a study of more than 40 nations, researchers found
soy, on a per calorie basis, to be the most protective dietary factor. This protective role may be
associated with two of soy's components, genistein and daidzein that may act as weak
estrogens or through other mechanisms. Estrogens are female hormones that inhibit prostate
cancer growth. Some experts have suggested that the worldwide differences in prostate cancer
incidence may also be explained by the high intake of green tea by residents of Asia.
The intake of other certain dietary factors may also reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer.
Such substances include lycopene and selenium. Cooked tomatoes are rich sources of
lycopene. Lycopenes are antioxidants that may protect cells from becoming cancerous. Several
studies have shown that the likelihood of developing prostate cancer is reduced by high intake of
lycopene. Researchers found that men ingesting two or more servings of tomato sauce per
week had a 36 percent reduction in cancer risk compared to those who did not. Selenium intake
has also been reported to lower prostate cancer risk. In a clinical trial designed to determine if
selenium could lower skin cancer recurrences, men who took selenium had a 63 percent
reduction in prostate cancer incidence compared to those who took a sugar pill (placebo).
Attention has also focused on vitamin D's effect on the prostate. Epidemiologic evidence shows
an inverse relationship between prostate cancer risk and ultraviolet radiation, the primary source
for vitamin D production. This observation has led some to suggest that higher rates of prostate
cancer in the elderly may be partly due to decreased sun exposure or a decline in the body's
ability to make vitamin D with aging.
Causes, Natural History & Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States.
Yet, when detected in its early stages, prostate cancer can be effectively treated and
cured.
What is the prostate?
The prostate gland is a small, walnut-sized gland in men. It is located below the bladder and
surrounds the upper portion of the urethra. The prostate gland lies in front of the rectum, and its
posterior surface can be felt during a rectal examination. The function of the prostate is to secrete
a fluid that makes up part of the semen.
What is prostate cancer?
It is the most common non-skin cancer in men affecting approximately 234,000 American men
each year with approximately 27,000 of these men dying each year. Prostate cancer is different
from most cancers in that an appreciable percentage of men, particularly older men with a
shorter life expectancy, may have a silent form of this cancer—it will not cause symptoms or
progress beyond the prostate gland during their lifetime. Sometimes this cancer can be small,
slow growing and present limited risk to the patient. Clinically important prostate cancers can be
defined as those that threaten the well-being or life span of a man.
What are the causes and risks associated with prostate cancer?
Predominately a disease of elderly men, the diagnosis of prostate cancer is rare before age 40
but increases dramatically thereafter. In the United States, it is estimated that one in 55 men
between the ages of 40 and 59 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. This incidence climbs
almost to one in six for men between ages 60 and 79. This association is also reflected in
mortality as prostate cancer accounts for about 10 percent of cancer-related deaths in men
between the ages of 60 and 79 and nearly 25 percent in those over the age of 80.
There are also ethnic determinants of risk. Blacks are in the highest risk group, with an
incidence of more than 200 cases per 100,000 black men. The incidence in Caucasian and
Asian men is slightly more than half that of blacks. In addition, blacks tend to present with more
advanced disease and have poorer overall prognosis than Caucasian or Asian men.
Men with a family history of prostate cancer are at an increased risk of developing the disease.
The risk correlates with the number of first-degree relatives (father, brother or uncle) affected by
prostate cancer and the age at onset. Men with a family history of disease may have a risk of
developing prostate cancer 2 to 11 times greater than men without a family history of prostate
cancer.
There is also considerable evidence showing that prostate cancer is more common in men with
a high intake of fat in their diets. The worldwide difference in prostate cancer incidence may be
associated with dietary intake of soy proteins. In Asian countries such as Japan and the
Republic of Korea where prostate cancer incidence and mortality are just a fraction of that in
North America, soy consumption in the form of tofu, soymilk and miso is up to 90 times higher
than that consumed in the United States. In a study of more than 40 nations, researchers found
soy, on a per calorie basis, to be the most protective dietary factor. This protective role may be
associated with two of soy's components, genistein and daidzein that may act as weak
estrogens or through other mechanisms. Estrogens are female hormones that inhibit prostate
cancer growth. Some experts have suggested that the worldwide differences in prostate cancer
incidence may also be explained by the high intake of green tea by residents of Asia.
The intake of other certain dietary factors may also reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer.
Such substances include lycopene and selenium. Cooked tomatoes are rich sources of
lycopene. Lycopenes are antioxidants that may protect cells from becoming cancerous. Several
studies have shown that the likelihood of developing prostate cancer is reduced by high intake of
lycopene. Researchers found that men ingesting two or more servings of tomato sauce per
week had a 36 percent reduction in cancer risk compared to those who did not. Selenium intake
has also been reported to lower prostate cancer risk. In a clinical trial designed to determine if
selenium could lower skin cancer recurrences, men who took selenium had a 63 percent
reduction in prostate cancer incidence compared to those who took a sugar pill (placebo).
Attention has also focused on vitamin D's effect on the prostate. Epidemiologic evidence shows
an inverse relationship between prostate cancer risk and ultraviolet radiation, the primary source
for vitamin D production. This observation has led some to suggest that higher rates of prostate
cancer in the elderly may be partly due to decreased sun exposure or a decline in the body's
ability to make vitamin D with aging.
| Alta Vista Urological Specialists 108 Legion Drive, Suite D Las Vegas, NM 87701 (505) 454-4000 fax: 505-454-4004 |
Need more information:
National Cancer Institute
Prostate Cancer Foundation
Medline - Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer Foundation
National Cancer Institute
Prostate Cancer Foundation
Medline - Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer Foundation
Prostate Calculator
This site contains several
"calculators" which use artificial
intelligence to make predictions
about various medical
conditions of the prostate.
This site contains several
"calculators" which use artificial
intelligence to make predictions
about various medical
conditions of the prostate.