Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Cancer of the prostate

The prostate is a small gland about the size of a walnut situated at the base of the bladder. It is only found in men and makes some of the fluid of a thick white liquid called semen. Semen mixes with sperm and comes out of the penis via the urethra when a man has an orgasm. The prostate produces a protein called prostate specific antogen (PSA) which turns semen into liquid form.

Around 27,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed each year in the UK and it is the most common cancer amongst men. It is rarely found in men under 45; incidence increases with age and it is quite common in men over 80.

Cancer of the prostate is a serious disease but is often slow to develop.  It is an unusual cancer because in some it affects only a small area of the prostate and grows so slowly it may never need treatment and does not cause symptoms. In others (usually younger men) it causes more symptoms and can spread outside the prostate (particularly to the bones).

• Symptoms
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Prevention
• Treatment

• Caesarean sectionCancerCancer of the bile ductCancer of the bladderCancer of the boneCancer of the brainCancer of the breastCancer of the breast, maleCancer of the cervixCancer of the colon, rectum or bowelCancer of the kidneyCancer of the larynxCancer of the liverCancer of the lungCancer of the mouthCancer of the oesophagusCancer of the ovaryCancer of the pancreasCancer of the prostateCancer of the skinCancer of the stomachCancer of the testicleCancer of the thyroidCancer of the uterusCancer of the vaginaCancer of the vulvaCarbon monoxide poisoningCarersCarpal tunnel syndromeCartilage damageCataract surgeryCataractsCatarrhCavernous sinus thrombosisCEA testCellulitisCerebral palsyCerebrovascular diseaseCervical screening testCervical spondylosisCharcot-Marie-Tooth diseaseChemotherapyChest infectionChickenpoxChildren in careChiropracticChlamydiaChloride testCholesterolChorionic Villus samplingChronic fatigue syndromeChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseCircumcisionCirrhosisCleft lip and palateClinical trialsClub footCoeliac diseaseCognitive behavioural therapyCold soreCold, commonColicColostomyColour vision deficiencyColposcopyCombined contraceptive pillComplaints about NHS servicesComplementary therapiesComplex Regional Pain SyndromeCondoms (male and female)Congenital heart diseaseCongestive heart failureConjunctivitisConsent to treatmentConstipationContraceptionContraceptive implants and injectionsContraceptive patchCoronary angioplastyCoronary artery bypassCoronary heart diseaseCorticosteroid (drugs)Corticosteroid preparations (topical)Cosmetic surgeryCoughCounsellingCradle capCraniosynostosisCreutzfeldt-Jakob diseaseCrohn's diseaseCroupCT scanCushing's syndromeCuts and grazesCystic fibrosisCystitisCystoscopyCytomegalovirus

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