Prostate cancer is one of the most common yet least talked about forms of cancer occurring in men. Recent statistics show that about one in six American men will eventually be diagnosed with it. Although this may present a grim outlook, the other side of the coin is a bit more optimistic: It’s typically a slow-growing disease, and of the thousands of men in North America who develop prostate cancer each year, few actually die of it. In any case, the more knowledge you have about prostate cancer, the better equipped you will be -- not only to fight the disease, but to take steps to prevent its occurrence. Here are some of the basic facts about prostate cancer, along with what you can do to keep the C-word from gracing your medical chart.

What is it?
The walnut-sized prostate gland is located in front of the rectum and below the bladder. Its main job is to produce the fluid that nourishes and protects sperm cells. The most common form of prostate cancer develops in the glandular cells. While most prostate cancers grow very slowly, if it's an aggressive form, it can quickly spread to the area surrounding the prostate, and eventually metastasize to the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, and other parts of the body.

Who is at risk?
Your chances of developing prostate cancer have a lot to do with factors you can't control, like age and family history. Some doctors believe that having a vasectomy can also increase the risk, but the medical community is divided on the issue.

Some of the known risk factors include:
Age: The risk of prostate cancer is higher in men over 50, and two thirds of cases are diagnosed in men over 65.

Race: The reason is a mystery, but prostate cancer is more likely to occur in black men than in white and Hispanic men; black men are also more than twice as likely to die of the disease. The occurrence of the cancer is lower in Asian men than in whites and Hispanics.
Family history: Having an immediate family member who has suffered from prostate cancer more than doubles your risk of eventually contracting it.

Diet: Eating an abundance of red meat and high-fat dairy products may increase your risk of prostate cancer.

Some doctors think that a condition known as prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, or PIN, can be an important indicator of whether or not you will develop prostate cancer. PIN refers to tiny changes in the size and shape of prostate gland cells, and can appear in men as young as 20. A high-grade PIN on a prostate biopsy may or may not indicate the presence of cancer, but your doctor will definitely want to keep regular tabs on your prostate if a high number is discovered.

What are the symptoms?
Many cases of prostate cancer are slow-growing and symptom-free. That said, some men do experience symptoms like difficulty urinating, a weaker urine stream, pain or burning while urinating or ejaculating, dribbling after urination, and stubborn hip or back pain. If you experience any of these symptoms, it's important to see your doctor immediately.

How is it detected?
If you're in a high-risk category, regular screening can help spot the cancer early on. Prostate cancer can be found in two ways: A doctor can test the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood or conduct a digital rectal exam.

A digital rectal exam is pretty much what it sounds like: The doctor inserts a finger into your rectum to manually check for any irregularities on your prostate. If the thought makes you squirm, you may want to realign your priorities: Regular tests can help catch prostate cancer at an earlier, less hazardous stage and increase the odds of eliminating the disease.

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