What and where?

Prostate cancer is a disease where cancerous cells develop in the prostate. It occurs when the prostate cells begin to multiply uncontrollably. It can cause back pain, difficulty in  urinating and problems during sexual intercourse this can mean erectile dysfunction. Some men with prostate cancer, do not experience any of the symptoms described. Factors that can cause prostate cancer are genetics and also some types of food including cheese and processed meats.

Cancer begins in the cells that make up tissue. Tissue makes up the organs of the human body. Normal cells grow and divide, when they die new cells are grown that take the place of those that have died. Sometimes this process can go wrong, and the body makes a mistake. New cells can grow when the body does not need them, and damaged or old cells do not die so as to be replaced by healthier ones. The build up of cells forms a lump of tissue, often called a growth or tumour.

Prostate growths can sometimes be benign (not cancerous) and will either go or will be removed by a doctor, while some can be malignant (cancerous) Cancer cells can spread by breaking from the tumour, which branch into other tissues. When the cells attach to other tissues they form new tumors. The spread of cancer is known as metastasis.

Diagram of male organs