Spotlight on prostate cancer The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located in front of the rectum, behind the base of the penis, and below the bladder. It surrounds the urethra, the tube-like channel that carries semen and urine through the penis. The main function of the prostate is to make seminal fluid, the liquid in semen that protects, supports, and helps transport sperm.
In 2021:
18,110+
estimated new diagnoses in Australia
95%
five year survival rate after diagnosis
3,150+ deaths in Australia each year
What is prostate cancer? Prostate cancer begins when healthy cells in the prostate change and grow uncontrollably, forming a tumour. A tumour can be benign or cancerous. A cancerous tumour is malignant, meaning it can grow and spread to other parts of the body. A benign tumour means the tumour can grow but will not spread. Prostate cancer is slightly unusual when compared with other cancer types. This is because many prostate tumours do not spread rapidly to other parts of the body. Some prostate cancers grow at a very slow rate and may not cause problems or symptoms for years, or sometimes ever. Even when prostate cancer has spread to other parts of the body often it can be managed for a long time. So people with prostate cancer, and even those with advanced prostate cancer, may live with good health and quality of life for many years. However, if the cancer cannot be well controlled with existing treatments, it can cause symptoms like fatigue and pain and sometimes can lead to death. An important part of managing prostate cancer is monitoring it for growth over time, in order to find out if it is growing slowly or rapidly. Based on the pattern of growth, your doctor can then decide the best available treatment options and when to give them. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in men in Australia and the third most common cause of cancer death. By the age of 85, it is estimated one in six men will be diagnosed with
22 A LITTLE BELOW THE BELT
prostate cancer. It is more common in older men, with 63 per cent of cases diagnosed in men over 65 years of age. In 2021, it was estimated that 18,110 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in Australia. The five-year survival rate for men diagnosed with prostate cancer has increased over the years from 60 per cent to 95 per cent. Nearly all patients who present with localised disease will live beyond five years. In 2021, deaths from prostate cancer were estimated to be 3,323.
Prostate cancer symptoms Symptoms are not usually seen with early prostate cancer. Advanced prostate cancer symptoms can include: • Frequent urination, particularly at night; • Pain on urination; • Blood in the urine; • A weak urine stream; • Pain in the pelvis or back • Weak legs or feet If the disease becomes more widespread and found in the bones, it can cause unexplained pain, fatigue and weight loss.
