Prostate Cancer

There are more than 200 types of cancer that a person can be diagnosed with. While a majority of cancers can affect both men and women, prostate cancer develops exclusively in men. It’s also the second most common type of cancer for men in the U.S., following skin cancer.

Prostate cancer refers to a bundle of abnormal, malignant cells, or a tumor, that grows in the prostate gland tissue. It impacts approximately 1 in 8 men in their lifetime.

While physical therapy at Forever Fit can’t treat the disease itself, we can help men with prostate cancer maintain the best quality of life possible as they fight it.

After lung cancer, prostate cancer is the most deadly type of cancer in men. Like a majority of cancer types, there’s a possibility of prostate cancer causing death, but many people diagnosed with it won’t pass away from the disease.

In 2022, data showed that the death rate declined approximately 50% since 1993. In fact, more than 3.5 million men in the U.S. who have received a prostate cancer diagnosis are alive in 2025.

When discussing an increased survival rate of cancer, it’s usually due to advancements in early screening and treatment options.

The course of a person’s prostate cancer, and the likelihood of survival, can be impacted by a variety of factors, including:

• How far the cancer cells have spread outside of the prostate
• The aggressiveness/speed of the cancer (measured by the Gleason score)
• Age
• Family history
• Overall health or co-occurring conditions/diseases

Nearly 100% of men with prostate cancer who survive five years after the diagnosis have the same survival rate as men without prostate cancer, with the survival percentage only slightly dropping as time goes on (98% after 10 years and 95% after 15 years).

After five years, most men with localized (contained in the gland) or regional (spread to surrounding areas) prostate cancers will be free of the disease.

All stages of prostate cancer should receive treatment, but the type of treatment you receive will vary depending on the stage of your diagnosis. Early-stage treatment focuses on eliminating the cancer, while later-stage treatment focuses on reducing symptoms and extending life.

 It’s possible that your doctor will recommend monitoring the tumors with regular appointments that are in the early stages and have a slow growth rate before any further treatment is completed.

 For localized and locally advanced prostate cancer, patients may be treated with surgery to remove the gland and any affected surrounding tissue. They may undergo radiation to kill the cells, which could be completed in conjunction with hormone therapy.

 More advanced diagnoses may require chemotherapy.

At this time, research hasn’t determined a specific cause of prostate cancer. Even though there isn’t a discernible explanation, medical professionals and researchers have figured out that genetic changes to the DNA in the prostate gland cells often lead to the growth.

Here are potential causes for development of prostate cancer.

• Genetic factors
  Gene mutations have been linked to prostate cancer. Mutations in a gene, such as a DNA repair gene, can be inherited from previous generations. The mutations can also develop later in life, known as acquired mutations, that quicken the cell growth process.
• Environmental influences
  Exposure to chemicals like arsenic, herbicides and pesticides has been linked to prostate cancer. Men who are exposed to dangerous chemicals on a regular basis, such as for a job, may develop cancer cells in their prostate gland.
• Lifestyle choices
  Tobacco is considered a carcinogen, meaning that it may cause or worsen the development of different cancers, including prostate cancer, even though there isn’t research supporting a direct link between the two.

  Alcohol consumption has been strongly linked to the development of prostate cancer, though other risk factors are usually in play.

Along with potential genetic and environmental causes of prostate cancer, there are also a variety of risk factors that increase the likelihood of being diagnosed with the disease.

• Age
  A diagnosis is more likely to come later on in life, being more common in men older than 65. Approximately 6 in 10 prostate cancer diagnoses impact men 65 or older. While it’s not unheard of, it’s less often found in men younger than 40. The risk of developing cancer cells in the prostate gland increases after a man turns 50.
• Demographics
  Black men are more than 1.5 times likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than white men, and more than twice as likely to pass away from the disease.There are also career paths that have been linked to higher risks of prostate cancer. With chemical exposure being a potential cause, farmers, firefighters and metal workers may be more likely to develop prostate cancer than those in different fields.
• Family history
  Since genetics play such a strong role in the development of prostate cancer, having a family history that includes prostate cancer can increase the risk of developing it yourself. It has the highest heritability rate for major cancers among men.A man with immediate family members who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer is twice as likely to be diagnosed with the disease at some point. The risk is reportedly higher if a man has a brother with the disease rather than a father.
• Diet and obesity
  Even though being obese isn’t a risk factor for developing prostate cancer, it’s believed that obese men with the disease are more likely to have an aggressive diagnosis.While there have been mixed results of studies on many dietary aspects linked to prostate cancer, there’s relatively strong evidence connecting a high intake of dairy to a risk of prostate cancer.

As is the case with all diseases and conditions, early detection is a key aspect in the outcome of treatment and the survival rate. Be sure that you communicate any concerns about potential symptoms to your doctor, as well as complete transparency in your family history and other possible risk factors.

There are a few screening methods that your doctor may order to detect potential prostate cancer cells, but the PSA and the DRE are the main two:

• Prostate specific antigen (PSA)This blood test measures the amount of PSA in your blood, which is a substance that’s made in the prostate. Men with prostate cancer have elevated PSA levels, though high PSA levels can be connected to other prostate-related issues as well.

  A biopsy will likely be recommended by your medical provider if abnormal results come back.

• Digital rectal exam (DRE)This is a physical examination that’s completed by your physician. It involves inserting a gloved finger into the rectum to feel for abnormalities. While this method can be an effective way for your doctor to detect any potential calls for concern, it’s not recommended as a primary screening method.

You’ll collaborate with your physician to determine how regularly you’re screened for prostate cancer based on risk factors and age. It’s usually not recommended for men under the age of 40.