Prostate cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the prostate grow in an uncontrolled way.
The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system. It makes a fluid that forms part of semen. The prostate is located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum.
Prostate cancer can press on or block the bladder or the urethra (the tube that allows urine to be released from the bladder) and cause problems with urination and sexual function. In advanced disease, the cancer can spread to other parts of the body to form secondary cancers (known as metastasis).
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in Australia (apart from common skin cancers).[1]