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Health Promotion & Chronic Disease Prevention
443-523-1760

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer found in men, and is second only to lung cancer for male cancer deaths. Prostate cancer affects nearly 70% of men over age 65. There are approximately 180,000 new cases of prostate cancer reported annually which is similar to breast cancer rates in women. Over 30,000 men die from prostate cancer each year. The most noted survivors of prostate cancer include former Senator Bob Dole and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Unlike other types of cancers, prostate cancer develops very slowly. Prevention and early detection are key to avoiding and surviving prostate cancer. If prostate cancer is detected before it has spread outside the prostate, the five-year survival rate is nearly 100%. If the cancer is caught at its earliest stages, most men will not experience any symptoms.  Some men, however, will experience symptoms that might indicate prostate cancer, including:

• A need to urinate frequently, especially at night;
• Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine;
• Weak or interrupted flow of urine;
• Painful or burning urination;
• Difficulty in having an erection;
• Painful ejaculation;
• Blood in urine or semen; or
• Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs.

Because these symptoms can also indicate the presence of other diseases or disorders, such as  BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy) or prostatitis, men who experience any of these symptoms should see a physician to determine the underlying cause of the symptoms.  

The prostate is an organ specific to the male anatomy are specific to the female anatomy. It is an internal male sex gland, usually about the size of a walnut, located below the bladder and in front of the rectum.

 Brochures on causes and risk factors for prostate cancer, screening guidelines, and importance of early detection can be obtained at the Somerset County Health Department by calling 443-523-1760.