What is prostate cancer? Male reproductive system comprises of a gland, about the size of a walnut called prostate. It is responsible for creation of fluids that make a part of semen and are discharged during ejaculation.

Just like other parts of the body the prostate gland is also made up of cells that keep taking birth, divide and then there come new cells that take place of the dead cells; this is normal process that makes the basics of the hundred and thousand of processes taking place inside our body. A cancer is something abnormal with the same process. The cells are born and start dividing and everything is normal by this stage then some mutation or abnormality which could be caused by anything, makes this growth to linger for an unexpected period of time and cells keep growing. These cells take the form of a lump and this is what we state as a tumor. Not all tumors are harmful and there are some that are there as benign tumors while there are others that pose great hazard to your well being and these malignant tumors, as we well them are termed as tumor. A prostate cancer is formation of malignant tumors in the prostate gland.

What causes prostate cancer? Though men can develop prostate cancer at any stage of life however the risk of prostate cancer increases with the age. It is found that most of the patients of prostate cancer are above 50. Surprisingly and for reasons unknown men of a certain geographical region are more prone to prostate cancer than the others. Another reason for the prostate cancer in men is family history. You are more likely to develop prostate cancer if men in your family have had same cancer. Dietary habits are also found to be causing prostate cancer and the research has suggested that it is more common in obese men and those who take food with great proportion of fats. Similarly individual health condition can also be a reason for the cancer we are talking about.

What are the symptoms? Just like other types of cancers, prostate cancer may not show up in the early stages and may grow slowly in some individuals. However, in others it may grow rapidly. If you need to go to urinate again and again and even during sleep, if you feel it difficult to start the urination, always feel pain in the lower abdominal region, if you see blood or pus in urine or semen, if you feel you are rapidly losing weight without any obvious reason and if you feel pain during urination or ejaculation these are the symptoms that demand you to see your physician immediately for a prostate scan.

What are the treatment options available? Once you are diagnosed with prostate cancer it is important to go for proper treatment or it may spread to other body parts as well especially if yours is a rapidly growing one. You have three options at your disposal to treat prostate cancer; drugs, surgery and radiation.