The
prostate is the male sex gland responsible for the production of semen.
The
function of the prostate is to secrete a slightly acidic fluid, milky or white
in appearance, that usually constitutes 50–75% of the volume of the semen along
with spermatozoa and seminal vesicle fluid. Semen is made alkaline overall with
the secretions from the other contributing glands, including, at least, the
seminal vesicle fluid. The alkalinity of semen helps neutralize the acidity of
the vaginal tract, prolonging the lifespan of sperm.
It is
located above the rectum and below the urinary bladder. The prostate surrounds
the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis as a
kind of "float" at the point where the urethra connects the bladder.
Prostate
cancer is one of the most common cancers to occur in men, after skin cancer.
Prostate
cancer may cause pain, difficulty in urinating, problems during sexual
intercourse, or erectile dysfunction. Other symptoms can potentially develop
during later stages of the disease.
Rates of
detection of prostate cancers vary widely across the world, with South and East
Asia detecting less frequently than in Europe, and especially the United
States.
Globally
it is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death in men (in the United
States it is the second). Prostate cancer is most common in the developed world
with increasing rates in the developing world. Many factors, including genetics
and diet, have been implicated in the development of prostate cancer.
As with many
types of cancer, early detection and treatment increase the prospects of cure.
In addition, prostate cancer is a type of cancer that grows slowly. When
developing the very end of life, as is often the case, the impact of the
disease may be minimal.
Posted on 1:35 AM / 2
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