Prostate Cancer
The prostate is a small organ present only in males. Only men develop prostate cancer. The prostate is normally about 3 cm long (slightly more than 1 inch) and lies below the urinary bladder and in front of the rectum. The prostate surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries sperm and urine out of the penis. It produces a thin, milky fluid that is added to the sperm at the time of ejaculation. Older men often have an enlarged prostate, which is a noncancerous condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) that causes urinary symptoms such as frequency and poor flow. Cancer occurs when normal cells undergo a transformation in which they grow and multiply without normal controls.
In western countries, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and is responsible for the second highest number of deaths after lung cancer. In India too, it is among the top three most common tumors in men, as per most cancer registries in the country. A large proportion of these, are unfortunately diagnosed at late stages because of lack of awareness and cancer screening facilities in India.