Prostate cancer means you have cancer cells in your prostate tissue. The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located between the bladder and the penis. It produces a fluid that is part of semen. 

Several types of cancer can develop in the prostate. Almost all prostate cancers are adenocarcinomas, which start in the gland cells. Other prostate cancers include small cell carcinomas, neuroendocrine tumors (other than small cell carcinomas), transitional cell carcinomas, and sarcomas. These other types of cancer are rare.

After skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the United States. About one in nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society.

Learn about prostate cancer, including risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options.

Prostate Cancer Risk Factors

Men over age 50 have the greatest risk of developing prostate cancer. More than 60 percent of prostate tumors occur in men age 65 or older. Starting at age 50, men should have an annual prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. If your PSA level is high, it can be a sign of prostate cancer. A high PSA reading also can indicate non-cancerous conditions. These can include inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis) and enlargement of the prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia).

Ethnic background can play a role, too. African-American men and Caribbean men of African ancestry are at higher risk of developing prostate cancer than men of other races.

Family history can increase the risk of prostate cancer. If a close relative, such as your father or brother, has had prostate cancer, your risk is higher than average. However, while prostate cancer seems to run in some families, most prostate cancers occur in men without a family history.

Genetic changes that occur after birth can also contribute to prostate cancer risk. Male hormones such as testosterone promote prostate cell growth. When testosterone causes cells to grow and divide very quickly, mutations can occur, which can cause cancer.

Prostate Cancer Symptoms

In its early stages, prostate cancer has no obvious symptoms. Doctors usually find the disease during a routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening. With more advanced prostate cancer, symptoms may include: 

• Blood in the urine or semen
• Difficulty starting or holding back urination
• Painful urination or ejaculation
• Pain in the spine, hips, ribs, or other bones
• Pressure or pain in the rectum
• Trouble having or keeping an erection 
• Weak, dribbling, or interrupted flow of urine
• Weakness or numbness in the legs or feet