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What You Need To Know About™ Prostate Cancer
    Posted: 11/20/2008
Prostate Cancer Cells

Cancer begins in cells, the building blocks that make up tissues. Tissues make up the organs of the body.

Normal cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them. When normal cells grow old or get damaged, they die, and new cells take their place.

Sometimes, this process goes wrong. New cells form when the body doesn't need them, and old or damaged cells don't die as they should. The buildup of extra cells often forms a mass of tissue called a growth or tumor.

Prostate growths can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer).

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a benign growth of prostate cells. It is not cancer. The prostate grows larger and squeezes the urethra. This prevents the normal flow of urine.

BPH is a very common problem. In the United States, most men over the age of 50 have symptoms of BPH. For some men, the symptoms may be severe enough to need treatment.

To learn about BPH and other prostate changes that are not cancer, read NCI's booklet Understanding Prostate Changes: A Health Guide for Men 1.

Benign growths are not as harmful as malignant growths:

  • Benign growths (such as BPH):
    • are rarely a threat to life
    • can be removed and probably won't grow back
    • don't invade the tissues around them
    • don't spread to other parts of the body

  • Malignant tumors:
    • may be a threat to life
    • often can be removed, but sometimes grow back
    • can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs
    • can spread to other parts of the body

Cancer cells can spread by breaking away from the prostate tumor. They enter blood vessels or lymph vessels, which branch into all the tissues of the body. The cancer cells can attach to other tissues and grow to form new tumors that may damage those tissues. The spread of cancer is called metastasis. See the Staging 2 section for information about prostate cancer that has spread.


Dictionary Terms

benign (beh-NINE)
Not cancerous. Benign tumors may grow larger but do not spread to other parts of the body. Also called nonmalignant.
benign prostatic hyperplasia (beh-NINE prah-STA-tik HY-per-PLAY-zhuh)
A benign (not cancer) condition in which an overgrowth of prostate tissue pushes against the urethra and the bladder, blocking the flow of urine. Also called benign prostatic hypertrophy and BPH.
cell (sel)
The individual unit that makes up the tissues of the body. All living things are made up of one or more cells.
lymph vessel (limf ...)
A thin tube that carries lymph (lymphatic fluid) and white blood cells through the lymphatic system. Also called lymphatic vessel.
malignant (muh-LIG-nunt)
Cancerous. Malignant tumors can invade and destroy nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body.
metastasis (meh-TAS-tuh-sis)
The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another. A tumor formed by cells that have spread is called a “metastatic tumor” or a “metastasis.” The metastatic tumor contains cells that are like those in the original (primary) tumor. The plural form of metastasis is metastases (meh-TAS-tuh-SEEZ).
tissue (TISH-oo)
A group or layer of cells that work together to perform a specific function.
tumor (TOO-mer)
An abnormal mass of tissue that results when cells divide more than they should or do not die when they should. Tumors may be benign (not cancer), or malignant (cancer). Also called neoplasm.


Table of Links

1http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/understanding-prostate-changes
2http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/prostate/page7