$Unique_ID{BRK03556} $Pretitle{} $Title{Cancer, Prostate} $Subject{Cancer Prostate Cancer of the Prostate Gland Carcinoma of the Prostate Adenocarcinoma Prostate Prostatic Cancer Prostatic Carcinoma Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy BPH} $Volume{} $Log{} Copyright (C) 1990 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. 803: Cancer, Prostate ** IMPORTANT ** It is possible that the main title of the article (Prostate Cancer) is not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYM listing to find the alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article. Synonyms Cancer of the Prostate Gland Carcinoma of the Prostate Adenocarcinoma of the Prostate Prostatic Cancer Prostatic Carcinoma Information on the following disorders can be found in the Related Disorders section of this report: Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH) General Discussion ** REMINDER ** The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources" section of this report. Prostate cancer is a prevalent form of cancer affecting only males. Cancer is a disease in which malignant cell development occurs, causing destruction of healthy tissue. The prostate gland, responsible for sperm vitality, is about the size of a walnut and surrounds the part of the male urethra beneath the bladder. Cancer of the prostate gland commonly occurs in older men. Average age of onset is 73 years. Symptoms Men who have prostate cancer may not experience any symptoms until the disease has progressed over a long period of time. Symptoms may include difficulty in urination (due to an enlarged prostate gland causing obstruction), painful or burning sensations while urinating, or difficulty in starting or stopping urination. Other symptoms may include blood in the urine, or a frequent need to urinate, especially at night. In some patients, bone pain can also occur. Rectal examination may indicate disease of the prostate gland. Diagnosis is made by needle biopsy. X-rays and bone scans may also be prescribed for diagnostic purposes. Causes Like most forms of cancer, the exact cause of prostate cancer is not known. Because it is more prevalent in Western countries, environmental factors may play a role in onset of this disorder. However, which environmental factors, if any, have not been definitely established. Affected Population Prostate cancer affects about 96,000 men a year, and tends to occur more often in black men. The average age of the patient at the time of diagnosis is 73. Men over the age of 40 should have an annual rectal examination. Related Disorders Symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH or benign enlargement of the prostate) can be similar to those of prostate cancer. However, BPH is non- cancerous (benign) and occurs with much more frequency than malignant cancer. Biopsy can be made to confirm the diagnosis of BPH. Therapies: Standard Treatment of prostate cancer varies from patient to patient. It is important to determine how far the disease has spread since this determines the appropriate treatment program. First, physicians determine what "stage" the disease is in. The stage depends on the number and location of malignant sites, and if it has traveled to other parts of the body. Surgery may be performed to treat prostate cancer. Other treatment may include radiotherapy (radiation therapy) which destroys cancer cells, and shrinks enlarged lymph nodes, and aids in prevention of further cancer. Impotence is a less frequent occurrence with modern medical advances in surgery and radiotherapy for prostate cancer. Endocrine (or hormone) therapy may benefit some patients. Chemotherapy, which may benefit some patients, involves the use of "anticancer" drugs such as cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cis-platinum, or dacarbazine (DTIC). All these drugs may produce adverse side effects and must be carefully monitored by a doctor. Other treatment is symptomatic and supportive. Therapies: Investigational The National Cancer Institute conducts clinical trials on new drugs being tested for prostate cancer and other forms of cancer. To learn about locations of these investigations, contact the Cancer Information Service listed in the Resources section of this report. This disease entry is based upon medical information available through August 1990. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder. Resources For more information on prostate cancer, please contact: National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) P.O. Box 8923 New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783 (203) 746-6518 American Cancer Society 1599 Clifton Rd., NE Atlanta, GA 30329 (404) 320-3333 NIH/National Cancer Institute 9000 Rockville Pike, Bldg. 31, Rm. 1A2A Bethesda, MD 20892 1-800-4-CANCER The National Cancer Institute has developed PDQ (Physician Data Query), a computerized database designed to give the public, cancer patients and families, and health professionals quick and easy access to many types of information vital to patients with this and many other types of cancer. To gain access to this service, call: Cancer Information Service (CIS) 1-800-4-CANCER In Washington, DC and suburbs in Maryland and Virginia, 636-5700 In Alaska, 1-800-638-6070 In Oahu, Hawaii, (808) 524-1234 (Neighbor islands call collect) References CECIL TEXTBOOK OF MEDICINE, 18th Ed.: James B. Wyngaarden, and Lloyd H. Smith, Jr., Editors; W.B. Saunders Co., 1988. Pp. 1423-1425. INTERNAL MEDICINE, 2nd Ed.: Jay H. Stein, ed.-in-chief; Little, Brown and Co., 1987. Pp. 1126-1128. WORLD BOOK MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA: Erich E. Brueschke, M.D., et al., eds; World Book, Inc., 1988. Pp. 149.