The prostate is a male gland normally about the size of a chestnut. It secretes a milky fluid that is part of the semen needed for ejaculation. The prostate gland lies at the base of the penis, just below the urinary bladder and in front of the rectum. It surrounds the first inch of the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder. Its location allows a physician to feel through the r ectum that part of the gland where most tumors occur.
Cancer is really a number of diseases caused by the abnormal growth of cells.
Normally, the cells that make up the body divide and reproduce in an orderly manner, so that we can grow, replace worn-out tissue, and repair any injuries. Sometimes, however, c ells get out of control. They divide too much and form masses known as tumors. Some tumors may interfere with body functions and require surgical removal, but they do not spread to other parts of the body. These are known as benign tumors.