Governor Brown being treated for prostate cancer

California Governor Jerry Brown is currently undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, and his administration has noted that he will continue work duties as the disease was caught in the early stages.

As those who buy Flomax are well aware, the National Institutes of Health notes that no direct connection has been drawn between an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH) and the onset of cancer. Some who are tested for BPH may be screened for cancer, however, in the interest of catching it early, as in Brown's case.

The governor has been successfully treated for the disease in the past, including a bout with skin cancer last year. At 74, Brown is at a common age for developing the condition, but his current bout of therapy is expected to be effective.

"Fortunately, this is early stage localized prostate cancer," noted Eric Small, M.D., Brown's oncologist at the University of California, San Francisco. "The prognosis is excellent, and there are not expected to be any significant side effects."

Although prostate cancer is common, survival rates are relatively high. According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 241,740 new cases were expected in 2012 but only 28,170 deaths were projected for the year.