Prostrate Cancer

Overview

Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops within the prostate gland. It occurs when the prostate's glandular cells start to grow and divide abnormally resulting in tumors.

The prostate is a small gland located in front of the male's rectum and under the bladder. The prostate is part of a man's reproductive system and helps produce part of the seminal fluid (the main portion of the seminal fluid is produced by the seminal vesicles). The role of this seminal fluid is to protect and nourish the sperm cells from the semen. The seminal fluid is carried out from the body through the urethra (a small tube that runs through the prostate and carries out the urine, and semen during ejaculation). Normally, a healthy prostate is not larger than a walnut. Any size modification suffered by the prostate is a sign of a disease.

The size of the prostate is influenced by the amount of testosterone produced by the body. If the prostate grows too large, it squeezes on the urethra - a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). If not treated, this condition can cause urination problems (the urine flow can be slowed down or even stopped). Similar symptoms (urination problems) can also occur when a tumor grows within the prostate tissues.

Because of the tumor size, the prostate starts to expand around the urethra. Left untreated, the cancer can spread to the adjacent fat tissues or organs (the seminal vesicles, the neck of the bladder or lymph nodes in the pelvic region). The tumors can also spread to the spine, hip, pelvis, and chest bones and metastases when reaches the lungs, liver, and adrenal glands.

=

Article by Alina Morrow, MS
Medical Writer
OmniMedicalSearch.com

Page Covers: What is prostate cancer?

Male urinary system with prostate gland.

Cross section view of the hips with enlarged prostate gland marked by + in the center. The cancerous prostate in this unidentified male is 3x larger than a healthy prostate.

Radiation therapy for prostate cancer.

Artist rendering of a nonspecific tumor.

Artist rendering of a nonspecific tumor.

Three rendered Illustrations of how cancer cells appear. The lower right is an actual cancer cell under high-scale magnification.

Prostate Cancer Pictures from our Medical Image Search Engine

Overview | Conditions & Diseases | Sitemap | Toolbar
Add OmniMedicalSearch.com To Your Favorite's Folder

Copyright © OmniMedicalSearch.com

OmniMedicalSearch does not provide medical advice and the Medical Conditions & Diseases section is for informational purposes only. Please see our Medical Disclaimer and always consult with your physician.