prostate cancer protect yourself: know the facts What is prostate cancer? How can prostate cancer be The prostate is a gland found in men. It found? is about the size of a walnut and found There is no standard or routine screen- near the bladder and rectum. Prostate ing test for prostate cancer, however, cancer begins when cells that are not there are two common tests used. They normal grow inside the prostate. After are: skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. • Prostate specific antigen (PSA) test: PSA is a protein produced by the What are the symptoms? prostate gland. The PSA test mea- A man with prostate cancer may not sures the amount of this protein in have any symptoms. When symptoms the blood. A high level may mean are present, some common ones are: cancer, but it also may be caused by less serious conditions, certain • Problems with urination drugs, and simply getting older. • Difficulty having an erection • Digital rectal exam (DRE): In a • Blood in the urine or semen DRE the doctor feels inside the rec- • Frequent pain in the lower back, tum for hard or lumpy areas on the hips, or upper thighs prostate.

Often, these symptoms are caused by The U.S. Preventive Services Task less serious conditions. However, men Force (USPSTF) recommends against who have any of these problems should prostate specific antigen (PSA) tell their doctor. screening for prostate cancer. This test does not distinguish between ma- lignant and benign tumors, resulting in many men having unnecessary biopsies, operations and radiation treatments. However, even though PSA tests are not recommended as a screening for prostate cancer, they are still often used. prostate cancer: protect yourself, know the facts -2- How reliable are the results of • Being 50 years of age or older. prostate cancer screening tests? • Being African American. Researchers do not agree on this ques- • Having a brother, son or father who tion. The tests are not perfect and con- had prostate cancer. fusing results can cause unnecessary worry or follow-up procedures. The Where can I get more PSA can find cancers that present no information? risk to a man’s health, and treatment for KCP’s online tool, Pathfinder, these cancers can cause side effects that can link you to cancer support and reduce a man’s quality of life, such as services nearest you. Visit www. impotence and urinary and fecal incon- kycancerprogram.org to find cancer tinence. resources in your community, or to contact your local Kentucky Cancer So what should men do? Program office. The decision to be screened for pros- . tate cancer is a personal one. Things to consider are age, race, overall health, For information on all types of cancer, and the man’s personal chance of get- contact: ting the disease. Also, some prostate • National Cancer Institute, cancers grow so slowly that they might 1-800-4-CANCER, www.cancer.gov not affect a man’s health. Prostate can- • American Cancer Society, cer can be a serious disease, but most 1-800-ACS-2345, www.cancer.org men diagnosed with this cancer do not • Centers for Disease Control and die from it. Therefore, it is important to Prevention, www.cdc.gov talk with your doctor about the pros and cons of prostate cancer screening and This fact sheet was developed by the Kentucky whether it is right for you. Cancer Program at the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center. The information comes from the National Cancer Institute, the American What increases a man’s chance Cancer Society, and the Centers for Disease of getting prostate cancer? Control and Prevention. The exact cause of prostate cancer is not known, so it is not possible to pre- Last reviewed March 2018 vent most cases of the disease. Risk factors for prostate cancer include: www.kycancerprogram.org The Kentucky Cancer Program is jointly administered by the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center and the University of Louisville Brown Cancer Center.