If either test is positive, confirmatory testing with transrectal ultrasound and biopsy is needed to diagnose prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men in the United States, after skin cancer. The prostate gland, which produces seminal fluid, is about the size of a walnut and is located below the bladder and in front of the rectum. Most cases of prostate cancer occur in men 65 or older, with the risk increasing with age. Approximately 13 percent of American men will be diagnosed with the disease during their lifetimes, but most cases never become life threatening.
Many questions still remain in the medical community about how best to treat prostate cancer.
To help answer these and other questions, the National Cancer Institute is currently sponsoring a long-term screening study of 37,000 men, ages 60 to 74. The information provided through OncoLink should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, you should consult your health care provider.