What is urologic cancer?

Urologic cancers include cancers of the kidney, ureters, bladder, penis, and prostate. Prostate cancer is the most common urologic cancer, and the most common cancer found in men. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, exceeded only by lung cancer.

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located in front of the rectum and found only in men. Prostate cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the prostate grow at an abnormal rate. Most prostate cancers grow very slowly, though some can spread and grow quickly.

Each year more than 230,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed in the United States.

While all men are at risk, the risk increases if you are:

• Over age 50
• African American
• Have a family history of the disease

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

•  A need to urinate frequently, especially at night
• Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine
• Inability to urinate
• Weak or interrupted flow of urine
• Painful or burning urination
• Difficulty in having an erection
• Painful ejaculation
• Blood in urine or semen
• Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips or upper thighs

It is important to know that in its early stages prostate cancer has no symptoms.