Essay, Research Paper: Reproductive System

The reproductive system consists of many different diseases, conditions, and disorders. The subject matter that I chose to discuss is that of prostate cancer. The prostate is a part of every man's reproductive system. In the average mature male, it is about the size of a walnut.
Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men in America. It is usually found in older men, and the risk of having prostate cancer increases with age. It is mainly found in men of 55 years and above. Prostate cancer is much more common in some races than in others. For example, Japanese men living in Japan have an extremely low incidence of prostate cancer. By comparison African American men are at very high risk of this disease.
A man can have prostate cancer for many years before symptoms become apparent. When symptoms do occur, they may include one or more of the following: frequent urination (especially at night), inability to urinate, trouble starting or holding back urination, pain on ejaculation, a weak or interrupted urine flow, pain or a burning feeling during urination, and blood in the urine or semen.
Prostate cancer can not be prevented, but it can be treated. There are a few methods that are used today in the United States to help treat prostate cancer. The first is surgery to remove the cancer. The second is radiation therapy, which uses different types of high-energy radiation to kill the cancer cells. The third is cryotherapy or cryoablation, which is a way of freezing the prostate to destroy the organ. (Cryotherapy is widely considered to be an experimental procedure at this time.)