Your healing zone:

Prostate Cancer

What is the prostate?

The prostate is a small gland found only in men. It is located below the bladder around the tube (urethra) which carries the urine out of the body. The gland produces a fluid which protects the urethra and mixes with sperm to form semen.

How common is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in men, accounting for 1 in 9 of all male cancer deaths. It is a disease of older men, with only 1 in 20 cases occurring in the under 60s.

What are the symptoms?

• difficulty in urinating (delays, stopping and starting, a weak stream)
• urinating more frequently than usual (for example, having to get up several times during the night)
• pain when urinating
• blood in your urine
• pain in your back and hips

If you have any of these symptoms, contact your GP immediately! Although most enlargements of the prostate are not cancer, the symptoms are similar and need to be checked by a doctor.

Thanks to the Bhia.org for the above information. See our links page to contact the Irish Cancer Society and check out the Irish health.com page for further information.