Skip to main content
Logo for WebMD
Logo for WebMD
  • Check Your Symptoms
  • Find A Doctor
  • Find A Dentist
  • Connect to Care
  • Find Lowest Drug Prices
  • Health
    A-Z
    Health A-Z
    Common Conditions
    • ADD/ADHD
    • Allergies
    • Arthritis
    • Cancer
    • Coronavirus (COVID-19)
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Eye Health
    • Heart Disease
    • Lung Disease
    • Orthopedics
    • Pain Management
    • Sexual Conditions
    • Skin Problems
    • Sleep Disorders
    • View All
    Resources
    • Symptom Checker
    • WebMD Blogs
    • Podcasts
    • Newsletters
    • Questions & Answers
    • Insurance Guide
    • Find a Doctor
    • Children's Conditions A-Z
    • Surgeries and Procedures A-Z
      Featured Topics
    • Symptom Checker COVID-19: Check Your Symptoms Now
    • Slideshow Get Help for Migraine Relief
  • Drugs &
    Supplements
    Drugs & Supplements
    Find & Review
    • Drugs
    • Supplements
    Drug Basics & Safety
    • Commonly Abused Drugs
    • Taking Meds When Pregnant
    Tools
    • Manage Your Medications
    • Pill Identifier
    • Check for Interactions
    • Drug Comparison Tool
      Featured Topics
    • Slideshow Vitamins You Need as You Age
    • Slideshow Supplements for Better Digestion
  • Living
    Healthy
    Living Healthy
    Diet, Food & Fitness
    • Diet & Weight Management
    • Weight Loss & Obesity
    • Food & Recipes
    • Fitness & Exercise
    Beauty & Balance
    • Healthy Beauty
    • Health & Balance
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Oral Care
    Living Well
    • Women's Health
    • Men's Health
    • Aging Well
    • Healthy Sleep
    • Healthy Teens
      Featured Topics
    • Article Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes
    • Quiz Do You Know the Benefits of Walking?
  • Family &
    Pregnancy
    Family & Pregnancy
    All About Pregnancy
    • Getting Pregnant
    • First Trimester
    • Second Trimester
    • Third Trimester
    • View All
    Parenting Guide
    • Newborn & Baby
    • Children's Health
    • Children's Vaccines
    • Raising Fit Kids
    • View All
    Pet Care Essentials
    • Healthy Cats
    • Healthy Dogs
    • View All
      Featured Topics
    • Slideshow Smart Snacks When You're Pregnant
    • Slideshow Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats
  • News &
    Experts
    News & Experts
    Health News
    • Coronavirus News & Updates
    • COVID-19 Vaccines -- Latest Updates Here
    • COVID-19: Check Your Symptoms Now
    • Coronavirus in Context: Interviews With Experts
    • Social Distancing, Quarantine Explained
    Experts & Community
    • WebMD Blogs
    • News Center
      Featured Topics
    • WebMD News Get the Latest COVID-19 News Here
    • Get Our Newsletters Health News and Information, Delivered to Your Inbox
  • Mobile Apps
  • Subscriptions
  • Sign In

    Prostate Cancer Guide

    • Overview & Facts
    • Symptoms & Stages
    • Diagnosis & Tests
    • Treatment & Care
    • Living & Managing
    • Support & Resources

    More on Prostate Cancer

    • News
    • Reference
    • Slideshows
    • Questions & Answers
    • Medications
    • Find an Oncologist
    • Cancer Moonshot Summit -- Get Involved
    • Advanced or Metastatic Prostate Cancer
    • Prostate Cancer Treatments
    • Prostate Cancer Screening
    • PSA Test
    • More Related Topics
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Guide

    Overview & Facts

    Cancer of the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system, is a major health concern for American men. The disease is rare before age 50, and experts believe most elderly men have traces of it.

      1. The Basics

        Prostate cancer usually grows very slowly, often causing no symptoms until it is in an advanced stage. Most men with the cancer die of other causes, and many never know they have it. But once prostate cancer begins to grow quickly or spreads, it is dangerous.

      1. What Causes Prostate Cancer?

        Doctors cannot say with certainty what causes prostate cancer, but experts generally agree that diet contributes to the risk.

      1. Potential Risk Factors

        Your age, race, and family history may contribute to your risk of developing prostate cancer.

      1. Prostate Cancer Prevention

        There is no evidence that you can prevent prostate cancer. But a healthy diet may help lower your risk.

      2. Myths About Prostate Cancer

        It’s not necessarily true that prostate cancer surgery will end your sex life, or that only elderly men get prostate cancer.

      3. Glossary of Terms

        Here are definitions of some medical terms you may hear during prostate cancer testing, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.

    Top Picks

    • Prostate Cancer's Link to Bone Metastasis
    • Chemo: 3 Things You Need to Know
    • See a Detailed View of the Prostate
    • Prostate Cancer: Frequently Asked Questions
    • 9 Tests Men Shouldn't Skip
    • Join the Discussion in the Prostate Cancer Community

    Today on WebMD

    man with doctor

    Prostate Cancer Symptoms & Treatments

    Symptoms, risks, treatments

    couple holding hands on beach

    Sex After Prostate Cancer

    What to expect after treatment.

    prostate cancer cells

    Metastatic Prostate Cancer

    What does this diagnosis mean?

    doctor and male patient

    The PSA Test

    Is it worth it?

    Recommended for You

    cancer fighting foods SLIDESHOW

    Eat These Cancer-Fighting Foods

    15 Cancer Symptoms Men Ignore FEATURE

    15 Cancer Symptoms Men Ignore

    Prostate Enlarged VIDEO

    Enlarged Prostate: Do You Know the Symptoms

    Picture Of The Prostate ANATOMY

    See What Your Prostate Looks Like

    Prostate Cancer Quiz QUIZ

    Prostate Cancer Myths vs. Facts

    screening tests for men SLIDESHOW

    Essential Screening Tests Every Man Needs

    Prostate Cancer Symptoms VIDEO

    Can You Recognize Prostate Cancer Warning Signs?

    Vitamin D SLIDESHOW

    Vitamin D: Nutrition's Newest Star

    Tools & Resources

    • Time for a Prostate Screening
    • Assess Your Cancer Risk
    • Prostate Cancer: A Visual Guide
    • Prostate Cancer: Myths vs. Facts
    • Sex After Prostate Cancer
    • 15 Cancer Symptoms Men Ignore

    Health Solutions

    • Penis Curved When Erect
    • Could I have CAD?
    • Treat Bent Fingers
    • Discover hATTR Symptoms
    • Tired of Dandruff?
    • Treat HR+, HER2- MBC
    • Rethink MS Treatment
    • AFib-Related Strokes
    • Risk of a Future DVT/PE
    • Is My Penis Normal?
    • Relapsing MS Options
    • Enlarged Prostate Facts
    • Finance Plastic Surgery
    • Bent Finger Causes
    • Living With Psoriasis?
    • Benefits of CBD

    More from WebMD

    • 5 Tips to Help With Relapsing MS
    • How to Thrive With Narcolepsy
    • Relief for Blocked Hair Follicles
    • Psoriatic Arthritis and Your Sleep
    • What Psoriasis Feels Like
    • First Psoriatic Arthritis Flare
    • Talking to Your Doctor About RA
    • Crohn's: A 'Full-Body' Disease
    • Avoiding Crohn’s Flares
    • Living With Ankylosing Spondylitis
    • Live Better With Psoriatic Disease
    • Types of B-Cell Therapy for MS
    • Living Better With T2 Diabetes
    • Why Prostate Cancer Spreads
    • Getting the Care You Need for MS
    • Where Breast Cancer Spreads
    • Logo for WebMD
      • Find us on:
      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • Pinterest
    • Policies

      • Privacy Policy
      • Cookie Policy
      • Editorial Policy
      • Advertising Policy
      • Correction Policy
      • Terms of Use

      About

      • Contact Us
      • About WebMD
      • Careers
      • Newsletter
      • Corporate
      • WebMD Health Services
      • Site Map
      • Accessibility
    • WebMD Network

      • Medscape
      • Medscape Reference
      • MedicineNet
      • eMedicineHealth
      • RxList
      • OnHealth
      • WebMDRx
      • First Aid
      • WebMD Magazine
      • WebMD Health Record
      • Dictionary
      • Physician Directory
    • Our Apps

      • WebMD Mobile
      • WebMD App
      • Pregnancy
      • Baby
      • Allergy
      • Medscape

      For Advertisers

      • Advertise with Us
      • Advertising Policy
    • TRUSTe
    • TAG Registered Seal
    • Honcode Seal
    • Adchoices

    © 2005 - 2021 WebMD LLC. All rights reserved.

    WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

    See additional information.