Whatis prostate cancer?Prostate cancer happens when normal cells in the prostate glandchange into abnormal cells and grow out of control. The prostate gland makesfluid that is part of semen. This gland sits below the bladder and in front ofthe rectum, and forms a ring around the urethra, the tube that carries urineout of the body .Prostatecancer occurs most often in males older than 50 years. Although prostate canceris very common, most people do not die from it. This is because prostate cancerusually grows very slowly.Whatare the symptoms of prostate cancer?Prostate cancer oftencauses no symptoms at first. But if symptoms do occur, they can include:●Needing to urinate more often than usual●A urine stream that is slower than usualThesesymptoms can also be caused by conditions that are not prostate cancer. But ifyou have these symptoms, tell your doctor or nurse.Isthere a test for prostate cancer?Yes. Doctors use ablood test called a PSA test and an exam called a rectal exam to check forprostate cancer. In a rectal exam, your doctor or nurse puts a finger in youranus and up into your rectum. They press on the rectum wall to feel forabnormal areas on the prostate .Ifyour doctor or nurse suspects that you have prostate cancer, they will followup with 1 or more tests. These can include:●Biopsy – A doctor will take a small sample of tissue from yourprostate. Then, another doctor will look at the sample under a microscope tosee if it has cancer.●Ultrasound, MRI scan, or other imaging tests – These testscreate images of the inside of the body and can show abnormal growths.Whatis cancer staging?Cancer staging is a way in which doctors find out how far acancer has spread.Howis prostate cancer treated?People with prostate cancer can oftenchoose their treatment.Themain options are:●Active surveillance – Ifyou choose this option, you will not have treatment right away. But you willhave routine tests to check whether the cancer is starting to grow morequickly. If so, you can start active treatment then.●Surgery – Prostatecancer can sometimes be treated with surgery to remove the prostate gland.●Radiation therapy –Radiation kills cancer cells. Radiation can be given from a machine that movesaround your body. Or a doctor might put a source of radiation directly intoyour prostate gland.●Hormone therapy –Male hormones in the body make prostate cancer grow. Hormone therapy reducesthe levels of these hormones, which can shrink the cancer. For hormone therapy,you might take medicines. Or you might have surgery to remove your testicles.(Male hormones are made in the testicles.) This treatment is usually only forthose with advanced cancer. But some people with early-stage cancer get italong with radiation or surgery.●Chemotherapy –Chemotherapy is the medical term for medicines that kill cancer cells or stopthem from growing. If you have advanced prostate cancer, you might getchemotherapy if hormone therapy stops working. In some cases, chemotherapy andhormone therapy are given at the same time.Somepeople, especially older males with other serious medical conditions, mightchoose not to do any of the above. Instead, they might choose "watchfulwaiting." Watchful waiting is not exactly the same as active surveillance.It does not require regular testing, but involves treating symptoms when theyhappen.Howdo I choose which treatment to have?You and your doctorwill have to work together to choose the right treatment for you. The righttreatment will depend on:●The stage of your cancer●Your age●Whether you have other health problems●How you feel about the treatment optionsAlwayslet your doctors and nurses know how you feel about a treatment. Any time youare offered a treatment, ask:●What are the benefits of this treatment? Is it likely to help melive longer? Will it reduce or prevent symptoms?●What are the downsides to this treatment?●Are there other options besides this treatment?●What happens if I do not have this treatment?Whathappens after treatment?After treatment, you might keep gettingchecked to see if the cancer comes back or starts growing more quickly. Otherschoose not to be checked. Follow-up tests can include PSA tests, exams,biopsies, or imaging tests.Whathappens if the cancer comes back or spreads?If the cancer comesback, you might have more radiation therapy, surgery, or hormone therapy. Youmight also have chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is the medicalterm for medicines, including vaccines, that work with the body'sinfection-fighting system (the "immune system") to stop cancergrowth.Canprostate cancer be prevented?Those who are at highrisk of getting prostate cancer can sometimes take a medicine to help preventthe disease. If you have a family history of prostate cancer, talk to yourdoctor.