Understanding Prostate Cancer
What is Prostate Cancer?
In general, cancer is a condition in which a normal cell becomes abnormal and starts to grow uncontrollably without having the signals or “brakes” that stop typical cell growth. The prostate is a small gland located below the bladder that is responsible for secreting one of the components of semen.
Prostate cancer occurs when a normal prostate cell becomes altered and starts growing in an uncontrolled way. Prostate cancer cells form masses of abnormal cells known as tumors.
How Common is Prostate Cancer?
Approximately one in eight men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. Prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed type of cancer in men, after skin cancer. In 2025, it is estimated that more than 313,000 new cases will be diagnosed in the U.S., and more than 1.4 million men were diagnosed globally in 2022.
Learn more about potential symptoms of prostate cancer.
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