The Facts
Prostate cancer affects 1 in 6 American men. Every year in the United States, about 217,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. It ranks third as a cause of cancer death in American men of all ages.
As an important part of the male reproductive system, the walnut-shaped prostate gland produces liquid that moves sperm. It is located between the rectum and the pubic bone, beneath the bladder.
When the condition is found early, and if it is located only in the prostate gland, treatment of prostate cancer can be more successful. If the cancer spreads to other areas of the body, treatment may become more difficult.