Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most frequent malignant tumor in men (36%), far more frequent than lung cancer (14%) and colon cancer (10.4%). However, it ranks as only the third cause of death due to cancer.

The severity of prostate cancer varies considerably. Some prostate cancers are so slow growing that they are relatively harmless whilst others may spread more quickly.

A prostate biopsy can show how the cancer is likely to behave by how abnormal it looks on microscopic examination.

The cancer is given a “Gleason grade” between 2 and 10 depending on the microscopic findings - with 2 being very well behaved and 10 being aggressive. A 10 grading is uncommon, with most prostate cancers being a Gleason grade 6 or 7.

Prostate cancer is diagnosed in about 8% of men. There are generally no signs or symptoms during the early stages of the disease.