Prostate Cancer- Overview of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a disease that affects the prostate gland, which is found only in men. The gland is the size of a walnut and is located beneath the bladder and underneath the rectum.

How Common is Prostate Cancer?

The American Cancer Society estimates that about 233,000 new cases will be diagnosed this year. Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among men, besides skin cancer.

Who Gets Prostate Cancer?

Studies have shown that men over the age of 50 are more at risk at developing the disease, than men under the age of 50. Studies have also shown that prostate cancer occurs 60% more often in African-American men than in Caucasian American men.

Nationality also plays a part. The disease is more common in North America and northwest Europe.

What are the Causes?

Researchers are not exactly sure as to why prostate cancer develops. They have discovered genetic mutations in DNA that do cause prostate cancer.

DNA not only decides what our physical appearance will look like, but also how our cells multiply and divide. Sometimes there may be a defect in the gene that controls cell activity. 10-15% percent of prostate cancer cases are attributed to genetic mutation.