Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men and the second leading cause of death in American males. Over 200,000 new cases are diagnosed per year in the U.S. and more than 40,000 men will die from the disease. Fortunately, early detection using a blood test and rectal exam has lead to lower mortality rates each year and the prognosis for men diagnosed with prostate cancer is better than ever.

Men are evaluated for prostate cancer when a blood test called prostate specific antigen (PSA) is elevated or the prostate feels anormal during a digital rectal exam (DRE). This may lead to an ultrasound guided biopsy of the prostate which is a 10 minute procedure usually performed in the urologist's office. Small samples are taken from the prostate and sent to a pathologist for review.

The two most important aspects of prostate cancer are its Gleason's grade and stage. Grade refers to the appearance of cancer cells under the microscope which correlates to the potential aggressiveness of the cancer. Stage reflects the extent of the cancer as determined by a combination of test including the PSA, DRE, biopsy, and x-rays.