Education - What is Prostate Cancer?

There are many different types of cancer. In fact, cancer is really a group of diseases that affects different cells in the body. Prostate cancer is a disease that affects the cells of the prostate. Normally, cells grow and divide in an orderly way. This is how the body grows and stays healthy. Sometimes this normal process of cell growth can go wrong. If abnormal cells continue to divide when they're not supposed to, they can form a tumor. Cancerous prostate tumors can, if untreated, spread to other parts of the body.

If symptoms occur, they may include difficulty starting urination, reduced force of stream of urine, urinating small amounts frequently, urinating more frequently during the night, painful urination and bone pain. Often there are no symptoms, which is why screening is so important.

The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system. It is about the same size and shape as a walnut and weighs only about an ounce. As pictured in the diagram, the prostate is located below the bladder and in front of the rectum. The prostate surrounds a tube called the urethra that carries urine from the bladder out through the penis. The main function of the prostate is to produce fluid for semen.

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