The prostate is a gland approximately the size of a walnut located just below the bladder in men. It promotes proper sexual function and bladder control.

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among men in the United States, second only to lung cancer. Because prostate cancer is usually a slow growing tumor, many men diagnosed with the disease will die from causes unrelated to their prostate cancer.

The signs of prostate cancer include:

• Urination difficulties, such as inability to urinate, having trouble starting urination, poor flow, dribbling, frequent urination, inability to stop the flow of urine, frequent nighttime urination or blood in the urine
• Pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips or legs
• Enlargement of the prostate gland

Although the cause of prostate cancer is unknown, several factors are associated with an increased risk of developing this cancer.

• Age. About 80% of these tumors are discovered in men older than 65.
• One in six men will develop invasive cancer of the prostate during his lifetime
• Family history. Men with several close relatives who have prostate cancer, or whose relatives are younger than 60 at diagnosis are at greater risk.
• Black men are twice as likely to develop the disease as Caucasian men
• Exposure to cadmium, which includes men who work as chemists, loggers, farmers, textile workers, painters and rubber tire workers
• Altered hormone levels (female and male sex hormones)
• High-fat diet

New screening tests have made it easier to detect early-stage prostate cancer when it is most responsive to cure.

• Digital rectal exam. This should be a regular part of yearly physical exams for men beginning at age 40.
• PSA test. Men 50 and over should have an annual prostate specific antigen (PSA) test. This measures a substance secreted by prostate cells. A high number of cells may indicate prostate cancer. African-American men and men with a family history of prostate cancer should begin PSA testing at age 45.
• Biopsy. This is the only sure way to determine whether prostate cancer is present. The urologist inserts several needles into the prostate to remove small pieces of tissue from different areas of the gland. These will be examined under a microscope. If prostate cancer is present, additional testing may be required to help see whether the disease has spread to surrounding tissues or beyond.
• Computed tomography (CT) , magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or bone scans help determine the extent of the disease.

Treatment plans depend on such factors as tumor type, the stage of disease and the patient's age and general physical condition. Treatment options include:

• Chemotherapy, which uses drugs to combat cancer cells
• Clinical trials, which explore new treatment options. One clinical trial underway at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is investigating the use of gene-chip analysis as part of National Institutes of Health-sponsored research. This technology allows researchers to unlock valuable genetic information about how prostate cancer develops and grows. Hormone therapy to stop cancer cells from growing is another treatment option being explored.
• New molecular-directed therapies that "turn off" prostate cancer "active" switches in cancer cells
• Radiation therapy, including radiation seeds to kill cancer cells
• Surgery, including removal of the prostate and surrounding tissue, partial removal of the prostate (to get rid of urinary blockages) and cryosurgery, which destroys cancer cells by freezing them

• Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute
• Louis Warschaw Prostate Cancer Center
• Minimally Invasive Urology Institute
• S. Mark Taper Foundation Imaging Center