In men in the United States, prostate cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. Prostate cancer strikes about 1 out of every 11 white men, and 1 out of every 9 African-American men. About 180,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States. Because the majority of prostate cancers are small, are confined to the prostate and don't cause symptoms, an additional 9 million American men may have prostate cancer without knowing it.
Symptoms
In its early stages, prostate cancer rarely causes symptoms. However, if the cancer grows to invade the urethra or bladder, it can cause the following problems:
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A less forceful urine stream
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Urinating more often than normal (frequency)
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An intense need to urinate (urgency)
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A sudden inability to pass urine (urinary retention)
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Repeated urinary tract infections
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Blood in the urine or semen
If prostate cancer spreads to the lymph nodes, bones or other organs, it can cause bone pain, weight loss, anemia, shortness of breath and other symptoms.
