The Urology Center Glossary terms

Prostate Cancer:

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in human beings. That is, even though prostate cancer occurs only in men, the number of men with prostate cancer exceeds the combined numbers of men and women with any other cancer. For example, there are more men with prostate cancer than men and women combined with lung cancer or men and women combined with colon cancer. There are more men with prostate cancer than women with breast cancer. Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in men. Therefore, not only is prostate cancer extremely common, it is sometimes a fatal illness.

Rapid progress is being made with regard to the diagnosis and treatment prostate cancer. Additionally, studies are ongoing investigating methods of prostate cancer prevention. Worldwide, more men than ever are undergoing prostate cancer screening. Cancer screening is resulting in earlier detection of prostate cancer at the stage when the cancer may be treated for cure. In fact, there are clear indications that the mortality rate from prostate cancer is decreasing. Early indications strongly suggest that this progress is the result of a combination of prostate cancer screening with early detection and treatment.

Complication rates of prostate cancer treatment are clearly decreasing with refinements in medications, radiation therapy, cryotherapy and surgical techniques. While every form of prostate cancer treatment has been associated with the development of erectile dysfunction, this problem is readily treatable such that no man should have to live with this problem. The physicians at the Urology Center not only have extensive experience with the evaluation and treatment prostate cancer, but they also have experience with the prevention and management of the conditions sometimes related to prostate cancer treatment -- incontinence and erectile dysfunction.

(Please visit our Prostate Cancer Center of Excellence, Benign Prostate Enlargement Center of Excellence for other information concerning prostate disease. Also see related glossary terms: Benign Prostate Enlargement, BPH, Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms, Office Prostate Microwave Thermotherapy, Prostate Surgery, Prostatitis, Prostate Cancer, Bladder Cancer or visit Cryosurgery, American Foundation for Urologic Disease, Prostate, American Urological Association and American Cancer Society.)