(ThyBlackMan.com) PROSTATE cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. Each year, men are diagnosed with prostate cancer, and it will claim lives. About 198 100 new cases will be diagnosed this year and about 31 500 men will die of the disease this year.
Research has shown that the most cases of Prostate cancer occur in men older than 50, but men who have a family history of prostate cancer in close 
family members should begin screening at age 45. While for some reason unknown, African American men have the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the world.
Prostate cancer is cancer that occurs in a man’s prostate – a small walnut-shaped gland that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm.
Some doctors believe that prostate cancer begins with very small changes in the size and shape of the prostate gland cells. These changes are known as PIN (prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia). Almost half of all men have PIN by the time they reach age 50. In PIN, there are changes in how the prostate gland cells look under the microscope, but the cells are basically still in place – they don’t look like they’ve gone into other parts of the prostate (like cancer cells would). These changes can be either low-grade (almost normal) or high-grade (abnormal).
Prostate cancer can be detected in its early stages. Your doctor can check you for prostate cancer with two simple tests a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and a digital rectal examination (DRE).
The PSA blood test is a very important tool for detecting prostate cancer. During the first test, blood is drawn and measured for a substance called PSA, which is produced by prostate gland cells. If the amount of PSA in your blood is higher than normal, it does not necessarily mean that you have prostate cancer. Several less serious conditions can also cause PSA levels to rise.
Prostate cancer may not cause signs or symptoms in its early stages. Prostate cancer that is more advanced may cause signs and symptoms such as:
• Trouble urinating
• Decreased force in the stream of urine
• Blood in your urine
• Blood in your semen
• Swelling in your legs
• Discomfort in the pelvic area
• Bone pain
If you have signs or symptoms that worry you, start by seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner. If your doctor suspects you may have a problem with your prostate, you may be referred to a urinary tract specialist (urologist). If you’re diagnosed with prostate cancer, you may be referred to a cancer specialist (oncologist) or a specialist who uses radiation therapy to treat cancer (radiation oncologist).
