Cause of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer develops from the impact of a progressive seies of genetic malfunctions that lead of abnormal cell growth in the prostate gland.

Once genetic control of cell growth breaks down, cells begin to divide in an uncontrolled manner, resulting in either a benign or cancerous tumor.

A cancerous tumor is one that invades the surrounding tissue, from where it can spread to areas around the prostate gland, and then to the rest of the body.

In particular, prostate cancer cells have an affinity to lodging in the bones, resulting in secondary metastises. This is thought to possibly be because of the network of veins around the prostate gland that drain directly into the vertebral column.

Stages of Prostate Cancer

The earliest, pre-malignant stage of prostate cancer is known as prostatic intrapithelial neoplasia [PIN]. At this stage, cells start piling up in the prostate gland, and have no ability to invade the surrounding tissue.

Eventually, the cells may develop the ability to invade surrounding tissue, at which point the level of a substance known as PSA rises - a sign that prostate cancer is developing. At this point, the cancer invades the gland and the surrounding capsule.

At this point, a biopsy is normally performed and the sample tissue given a Gleason grade according to the shape, size and structure of the cells. This is also used to indicate the 'aggressiveness' of the prostate cancer on a scale of 1 - 5. The grade from samples taken from the two most prominant areas of cancer cells in the sample are added together to give a Gleason Score of 2-10.

Probability of Prostate Cancer

The overall lifetime probability of a man developing prostate cancer is around 10%. This is largely driven by personal risk factors, such as:

• Increasing age - the average being 70
• Family history - particularly where relatives under 60 develop prostate cancer
• Race - more common in races further away from the equateor, hence it is more prevalent in Afro-Carribean races, and less prevalent in those of Far Eastern descent
• Diet - with high levels of saturated animal fat

NEXT: Symptoms and Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer

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