What Should I Know First About Prostate Cancer?

When someone is newly diagnosed with prostate cancer, the first question that comes up is usually: what does this mean for me? The prostate is a small gland below the bladder that helps produce semen. Cancer in this gland can behave in very different ways. Some prostate cancers grow so slowly that they never cause problems, while others are aggressive and need treatment right away.

The most common type is called adenocarcinoma. This starts in the gland cells of the prostate and makes up the vast majority of cases. Doctors look at the cancer cells under a microscope and give them a Gleason score, which shows how abnormal they look. That score is one of the best ways to predict how fast the cancer might grow and spread.

Treatment depends on the type and aggressiveness of the cancer, along with the person’s age and overall health. Some men get regular checkups and tests to monitor the cancer (sometimes called active surveillance) without starting treatment right away if the cancer is small, slow-growing, and not causing symptoms. Others may need surgery or radiation on the gland. Hormone therapy is sometimes added to block the signals that help prostate cancer grow.

Side effects are an important part of the conversation. Urinary control and sexual function can change after surgery or radiation, and hormone therapy can affect energy and mood. Talking openly with the doctor about what to expect makes it easier to prepare and to find ways to manage these changes.

The key point is that not all prostate cancers are the same. Understanding the type and the risk level is the first step toward deciding what treatment, if any, is needed.