Early Prostate Cancer: Questions and Answers
Early Prostate Cancer: Questions and Answers Key Points * The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system that makes and stores a component of semen (see Question 1). * The most common risk factor for prostate cancer is age (see Question 3). * Prostate cancer often does not cause symptoms for many years. By the time symptoms occur, the disease may have spread beyond the prostate (see Question 4). * The symptoms of prostate cancer can also be caused by noncancerous conditions (see Questions 4 and 5). * Two tests can be used to detect prostate cancer in the absence of any symptoms: a digital rectal exam and a blood test to detect a substance made by the prostate called prostate-specific antigen (PSA) (see Questions 6 and 7). * The diagnosis of prostate cancer can be confirmed only by a biopsy (see Question 8). * Prostate cancer is described by both grade and stage (see Question 8). * Three treatment options are generally accepted for men with localized prostate ca