Prostatakseen

Prostatakseen is a term used in medical contexts to denote cancer that originates in the prostate gland. The prostate is a small gland in the male reproductive system. Prostatakseen is the most common cancer among men in many populations, though its behavior ranges from indolent to highly aggressive. It is typically diagnosed in men aged 50 and older.

Risk factors include age, family history, and inherited genetic alterations such as mutations in BRCA2 or HOXB13, as well as race, with higher incidence observed in men of African descent. Lifestyle factors have a weaker and less consistent association. Most cases are diagnosed after routine screening or when symptoms appear.

Symptoms, when present, may include difficulty urinating, a weak or interrupted urine stream, frequent urination, especially at night, blood in urine or semen, and persistent pelvic or back pain in advanced disease. Because early prostate cancer often lacks symptoms, screening with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and digital rectal examination (DRE) is common in many guidelines.

Diagnosis is based on biopsy confirming malignant tissue, often guided by imaging, with the Gleason score used to grade tumor aggressiveness. Staging uses MRI, CT, or bone scans to assess local extension and metastasis. Treatments vary by stage and risk, ranging from active surveillance for very low-risk tumors to radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy for localized disease, and androgen-deprivation therapy, chemotherapy, or targeted agents for advanced disease.

Prognosis depends on stage and tumor grade; localized cancers have favorable survival rates, while metastatic disease has poorer outcomes. Early detection and advances in treatment have improved survival and quality of life for many patients. Terminology and classification can differ by language and region, but the underlying condition remains prostate cancer.