Cancer is a serious concern for a patient of any age. But understanding more about the disease and how it affects the body can only help a patient cope with his or her condition. Here is a simple explanation of what having cancer means. The body is made up of cells that divide and reproduce at a normal rate. This natural process allows the body to grow and to heal itself.
Cancer cells divide and multiply uncontrollably.
When these cells generally reproduce they form masses known as tumors which can interfere with the body's normal function. If a tumor is malignant, or cancerous, small portions of it can break off and travel to other areas of the body where new tumors, called metastases, may develop. This is how cancer spreads or metastasizes. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer occurring in men. It is estimated that one in every 10 American men will develop prostate cancer at some time in his life.