Prostate cancer is cancer that starts in the prostate gland. The prostate is a small, walnut-shaped structure that makes up part of a man's reproductive system. It wraps around the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body.

Cancer - prostate; Biopsy - prostate; Prostate biopsy; Gleason score

Common conditions include: Familial Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cause of death from cancer in men over age 75. Prostate cancer is rarely found in men younger than 40.

People who are at high risk include:

• African American men, who are also more likely to develop this cancer at every age
• Men age 60 years and above
• Men who have a father or brother with prostate cancer

Other people at risk include:

• Men who have been exposed to Agent Orange
• Men who eat a diet high in fat, especially animal fat
• Obese men

Prostate cancer is less common in people who do not eat meat (vegetarians).

A common problem in almost all men as they grow older is an enlarged prostate that affects their urinary function. This is called benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. It does not raise your risk for prostate cancer. But, it can increase your prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test result.

With early prostate cancer, there are often no symptoms.

The PSA blood test may be done to screen men for prostate cancer. Often, the PSA level rises before there are any symptoms of prostate cancer.

The symptoms listed below can occur with prostate cancer as it grows larger in the prostate. These symptoms can also be caused by other prostate problems:

• Delayed or slowed start of urinary stream
• Dribbling or leakage of urine, most often after urinating
• Slow urinary stream
• Straining when urinating, or not being able to empty all of the urine
• Blood in the urine or semen

When the cancer has spread, there may be bone pain or tenderness, most often in the lower back and pelvic bones.

Treatment depends on many things, including your Gleason score and your overall health. Your health care team members will discuss your treatment options with you.

If the cancer has not spread outside the prostate gland, common treatments include:

• Surgery (radical prostatectomy)
• Radiation therapy, including brachytherapy, external beam therapy, and proton therapy

If you are older, your team may recommend simply monitoring the cancer with PSA tests and biopsies. This is called active surveillance.

Hormone therapy is mainly used for cancer that has spread beyond the prostate. It helps relieve symptoms and prevents further growth and spread of the cancer. But it does not cure the cancer.

If prostate cancer spreads even after hormone therapy, surgery, or radiation has been tried, treatment may include:

• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy (medicine to trigger the immune system to attack and kill cancer cells)

Surgery, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy can affect your sexual function. Problems with urine control are possible after surgery and radiation therapy. Discuss your concerns with your health care providers.

After treatment for prostate cancer, you will be closely watched to make sure the cancer does not spread. This involves routine checkups, including PSA blood tests (usually every 3 months to 1 year).

You can ease the stress of illness by joining a prostate cancer support group. Sharing with others who have common experiences and problems can help you not feel alone.

How well you do depends on whether the cancer has spread outside the prostate gland and how abnormal the cancer cells are (the Gleason score) when you are diagnosed.

A cure is possible if the cancer has not spread. Hormone treatment can improve survival, even if a cure is not possible.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of PSA screening with your provider.

Talk with your provider about possible ways to lower your risk for prostate cancer. These may include lifestyle measures, such as diet and exercise.

There are no medicines approved by the FDA for preventing prostate cancer.

Published Date: July 01, 2025
Published By: Kelly L. Stratton, MD, FACS, Associate Professor, Department of Urology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

Freedland SJ, Giovannucci E, Gresham G. Epidemiology, etiology, and prevention of prostate cancer. In: Dmochowski RR, Kavoussi LR, Peters CA, et al, eds. Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 153.

National Cancer Institute website. Prostate cancer treatment (PDQ) health professional version. www.cancer.gov/types/prostate/hp/prostate-treatment-pdq. Updated May 14, 2025. Accessed July 2, 2025.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network website. NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology (NCCN guidelines): Prostate cancer. Version 2.2025. www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/prostate.pdf. Updated April 16, 2025. Accessed July 2, 2025.

Nelson WG, Antonarakis ES, Carter B, De Marzo AM, DeWeese TL. Prostate cancer. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 81.

US Preventive Services Task Force; Grossman DC, Curry SJ, et al. Screening for prostate cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2018;319(18):1901-1913. PMID: 29801017 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29801017/.

Wei JT, Barocas D, Carlsson S, et al. Early detection of prostate cancer: AUA/SUO guideline part I: Prostate cancer screening. J Urol. 2023 Jul;210(1):46-53. PMID: 37096582 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37096582/.

Wei JT, Barocas D, Carlsson S, et al. Early detection of prostate cancer: AUA/SUO guideline part II: Considerations for a prostate biopsy. J Urol. 2023 Jul;210(1):54-63. PMID: 37096575 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37096575/.