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The prostate is a small gland at the base of the bladder that most young men don't even know they have (see the diagram below at left). As you get older, though, it may get bigger and obstruct the flow of urine out of the bladder. The incidence of prostate cancer increases with age. And the gland may become infected, causing a variety of problems. We'll talk about each of these problems in order: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Although no one knows for sure what causes Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), we know that it's an unusual problem in young men, but is increasingly more frequent as men get older. Prolonged exposure to androgens (male sex hormones) is also necessary, since men who have been castrated don't get the condition.
If you think that you might have BPH, you should see your doctor. He or she may refer you to a specialist known as a urologist. Prostate Cancer Prostate cancer is a common malignancy--it is the most common form of cancer among men, and can be fatal. Like BPH (see above), androgens are related to this form of cancer, but some factors in the environment are probably also involved. Most people, especially early in the disease, have no symptoms of prostate cancer, and it's important for men over 50 to be screened for prostate cancer. Screening involves a blood test for Prostatic Specific Antigen (PSA) and a digital exam of the prostate. Want to know more? The American Cancer Society has information on the causes of and treatments for many types of cancer. They have a good page on prostate cancer. This resource includes more information on causes, symptoms, and diagnosis as well as treatment. Oncolink at the University of Pennsylvania has excellent resources about prostate cancer, and includes information about clinical trials. The National Cancer Institute also has excellent information for both patients and their family, and includes information about clinical trials.
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