Every man has one, it's important for their sex life, yet few men know anything about their prostate or what can go wrong with it.
The prostate is a small gland about the size of a walnut, which lies just below the bladder. The tube draining the bladder, called the urethra, passes through the centre of the gland to the penis.
The valve mechanism, or sphincter, maintains continence and stop urine leaking out of the bladder. It is located below the prostate gland.
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The prostate gland is positioned along the path from the bladder to the penis. The urethra, which a thin tube that runs from the bladder through the penis to carry urine and sperm, also runs through the prostate. The prostate produces fluid (prostatic fluid), which is secreted at the time of ejaculation.
Most common cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, with more than 30,000 men diagnosed annually.
Around 10,000 men die from it every year, making it the second most common cause of cancer deaths in men after lung cancer.
Most men with early prostate cancer have no symptoms at all. Some of the symptoms of prostate cancer below can also be caused by other prostate problems.
Symptoms of all prostate problems include:
- needing to urinate often, especially at night
- difficulty starting to urinate
- straining to urinate or taking a long time to finish
- pain when urinating or during sex
Other less common symptoms include:
- pain in the lower back
- blood in the urine
At risk' groups
The risk of getting prostate cancer gets higher as you get older. Most men diagnosed with the condition are over 50.
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