Prostate cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancerous) cells form in the tissues of the prostate - gland (about the size of a walnut) which is located under the bladder and in front of the rectum in men. It produces a fluid component of semen which transports sperm during ejaculation. 

Presenting symptoms: Possible symptoms of prostate cancer include blood in the urine or semen, pain and trouble passing urine, frequent urination (find out more).

UK incidence: The risk of this condition increases with the age, generally men over the age of 50 are affected. In the UK nearly 32,000 men are diagnosed every year with prostate cancer which causes more than 10,000 deaths every year. Overall, one men in fourteen will get prostate cancer at some point in his life.

Types: Although there are several cell types in the prostate, nearly all prostate cancers start in the gland cells. This kind of malignancy is known as adenocarcinoma (find out more).

Risks factors: Most cases of this condition are diagnosed in men over the age of 65. There are usually no predisposing risk factors but there is some evidence of associations with a previous poor diet (high in fat, low in fruits and vegetables), being a black male, men who have a strong family history of the disease are at greater risk. (find out more)

Tests to determine a diagnosis and help decide on treatment options: Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test, Digital Rectal Examination (DRE), transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), biopsy (find out more)

What determines the treatment options and prognosis:

• The stage of the cancer (what part of the organ is affected and how large that part is, the extent of spread)
• The type of  cells and how aggressive they look under a microscope (grade) - in this case referred to as Gleason score 
• Age and general health of the patient
• Whether the condition has just been newly diagnosed or has recurred
• Level and rate of rise of PSA

Treatment options (find out more): Prostate cancer can often grow very slowly and most men with this diagnosis live their lives without it causing any problems to them. Therefore there is a lot to consider when deciding the best way to treat prostate cancer. It may take more than one visit to your doctor to discuss all your concerns and you may want to consider getting a second opinion. Make sure all your concerns and questions have been answered before you decide on a treatment. Your treatment plan may involve one or a combination of treatments:

• Surgery (prostatectomy)
• Radiotherapy (external beam)
• Brachytherapy (radioactive seed implants)
• Hormone therapy
• Watchful waiting (active surveillance)
• Cryotherapy
• High frequency ultrasound
• Chemotherapy

Click for medical clinical guidelines

Further general information Your doctors and specialist nurses are in an ideal position to give you relevant information on your disease and treatment as they know your individual circumstances. Cancerbackup has a help line (0808 800 1234) and a prize winning video available in English, Italian, Urdu, Bengali, Gujarati & Hindi explaining Radiotherapy & Chemotherapy. Cancernet.co.uk has over 500 pages describing cancer, its management, practical tips and tool which patients, their carers and their doctors have found helpful during the cancer journey.