Prostate Cancer Facts You Should Know

Prostate cancer is mainly found in older men—nearly 8 percent of men are estimated to develop it between their 50th and 70th birthdays, according to the National Cancer Institute. Specifically, the disease is when malignant cells grow in a man’s prostate, which is a gland in the reproductive system. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men—only skin cancer rates are higher. In fact, 1 out of 6 men will likely receive a prostate cancer diagnosis sometime in their lives. And as far as cancers go, it’s also the second highest killer for men as well: It is estimated that in 2010, 217,730 men will be diagnosed with the disease and 32,050 men will die of it.

The bad news: Prostate cancer is common. The good news: It’s also preventable. If you catch prostate cancer early enough—a.k.a., before the cancer cells spread past your prostate—your chance of surviving the next 5 years is 100 percent. Read on to see how you can take steps to prevent it, what causes it, and how you can treat it.