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Macmillan and Cancerbackup merged in 2008. Together we provide free, high quality information for people affected by cancer through our publications, website and phone service. Find out more|.
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In the UK, about 1 in 14 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer| in their lifetime and around 36,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year.
Prostate cancer generally affects men over 50 and is rarely found in younger men. It is the most common type of cancer in men.
It differs from most other cancers that can occur in the body, in that small areas of cancer within the prostate are very common and may stay dormant (inactive) for many years.
Approximately one half of all men in their 50s have some cancer cells within their prostate, and 8 out of 10 men (80%) over the age of 80 have a small area of prostate cancer. Most of these cancers grow extremely slowly and, particularly in elderly men, will never cause any problems.
In a small proportion of men, a prostate cancer can grow more quickly and in some cases may spread to other parts of the body, particularly the bones|.
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