What is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer refers to a malignant tumor that develops in the prostate gland. The prostate is a reproductive organ found only in men. When a tumor arises in the prostate glands, it can spread throughout the prostate and potentially metastasize to nearby organs. It often metastasizes to the pelvic bones or spine, which can lead to serious complications.

Primary Tumor (clinical T)	TX	The primary tumor cannot be assessed
	T0	No evidence of primary tumor
	T1	Clinically inapparent tumor is neither palpable nor visible by imaging
	T1a	Tumor incidental histologic finding in 5% or less of tissue resected
	T1b	Tumor incidental histologic finding in more than 5% of tissue resected
	T1c	Tumor identified by needle biopsy (e.g., because of elevated PSA)
	T2	Tumor confined within prostate
	T2a	Tumor involves one-half of one lobe or less
	T2b	Tumor involves more than one-half of one lobe but not both lobes
	T2c	Tumor involves both lobes
	T3	Tumor extends through the prostate capsule
	T3a	Extracapsular extension (unilateral or bilateral)
	T3b	Tumor invades seminal vesicle(s)
	T4	Tumor is fixed or invades adjacent structures other than seminal vesicles; such as external sphincter, rectum, bladder, levator muscles, and/or pelvic wall

출처 : 국립암센터

Causes of Prostate Cancer

The exact cause of prostate cancer is still unknown. However, it is associated with factors such as advanced age, genetic predisposition, male hormones, and Western dietary habits. Other contributing factors include socioeconomic status and infectious diseases, but the most significant risk factor is age.

According to data from the Korea National Cancer Center, a total of 282,047 new cancer cases were reported in South Korea in 2022. Among these, there were 20,754 cases of prostate cancer, accounting for 7.4% of all cancer cases and ranking 6th overall. Among cancers affecting men, prostate cancer ranked 2nd.