The prostate is part of the male reproductive system. It's a gland about the size of a walnut that surrounds the urethra at the base of the bladder. Even though prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer for men overall, it's only the third most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages. However, it's the most common cause of death from cancer in men over age 75. Prostate cancer is rarely found in men under age 40.
Types & Detection
Most prostate cancers are adenocarcinomas, but another form is sarcoma, which have a worse prognosis. It's usually detected through blood tests and PSA screening, typically before any symptoms occur.
Once a PSA reading of 4.0 or higher is seen, typically the doctor will request a biopsy to determine if there are signs of cancer. Treatment for prostate cancer may be done in several ways, including prostatectomy (removal of the prostate), chemo and radiation, and hormone therapy.
In next blogpost, we will discuss life insurance underwriting for prostate cancer.