Dennis Hopper: Prostate Cancer.

In the midst of a public and controversial divorce from his wife, Victoria Duffy, I wanted to take a minute and discuss Dennis Hopper’s recent cancer diagnosis.

For those of you who don’t know, actor Dennis Hopper, famous for his roles in Rebel Without a Cause, and Easy Rider (among other things – Waterworld … sigh), was recently diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. So, what is prostate cancer, and what does this mean for Mr. Hopper?

Well the prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system, responsible for storing and secreting a specific constituent of semen (that’s as far as I’ll go with it). Prostate cancer is simply cancer (or uncontrolled cell growth) of cells in the prostate. The cause of prostate cancer, like most cancers, is still relatively unknown, but the greatest risk factor is age. Prostate cancer is extremely rare in men under 45, but poses a high risk for men 60 and older. Treatment for prostate cancer includes surgery (to remove the prostate), radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and medications, all depending on the stage at which cancerous cells are detected. Symptoms of prostate cancer include frequent night urination, and lower abdominal pain (specifically pain associated with urination).

Prognosis associated with prostate cancer depends on when the disease is detected and how far the cancer has spread (or metastasized). Meaning if the cancer has spread to other regions, such as bone or lymph nodes, then it becomes harder to destroy. Because the disease usually occurs in older men, other health conditions, not associated with the cancer, often interfere and make the actual survival rate of the condition unknown.

So what is the outlook for Dennis Hopper ? Well, in January of 2010, a spokesperson for Hopper stated the cancer had spread to his bones, which is not a good sign, but definitely doesn’t mean it’s all over. Cancer treatments are rapidly evolving, and Hollywood is usually on the cusp of these new therapies. So, let’s hope Mr. Hopper receives the best treatment possible and beats this cancer.

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