Patient's Platform - An Overview of Prostate Cancer

Patient's Platform

The following information is provided to educate the public regarding the basics of prostate cancer and treatment.

Defining The Problem

Prostate cancer is a disease of men. Only men have prostate glands, and prostate cancer is a public health problem that will affect one in eight men during their lifetime. In the realm of cancer in men, only cancer deaths due to lung cancer surpass deaths due to prostate cancer.

In 1999, there were approximately 37,000 deaths attributed to prostate cancer. Because of increased awareness of the problem of prostate cancer, there has been an increase in its detection. By making extrapolations based on the trend of increased detection, it is estimated that there will be a 90 percent increase in the number of prostate cancers diagnosed in the year 2000 as compared with the 1980s.

What is a Prostate Gland? View the Prostate Gland

The prostate gland is located just below the urinary bladder and in front of the rectum. It is a gland that produces about 95% of the fluid that carries sperm during ejaculation. The four major areas of the prostate gland, from largest to smallest are:

• The peripheral zone is the part that the doctor feels during a digital rectal exam. This is the area where most prostate cancers begin.

• The transition zone is the starting point for a small number of prostate cancers. A noncancerous condition, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also occurs in this area.

• The central zone is the starting point for an even smaller number of prostate cancers, and functionally supports the ejaculatory ducts as they enter into the prostate gland.

• The fibromuscular zone is the smallest area of the prostate, and functions as a valve to prevent urine from leaking out of the urinary bladder. Virtually no malignancies originate in this area.

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For any additional information needed, contact us below:

Prostate Services of America, Inc.
2655 N. Ocean Drive Suite 405 ~ Singer Island, Fl. 33404
Toll free: 1-877-GET-I-125 0r 561-842-8900
Fax: 561-842-6660
E-mail: Info@prostateservices.com