It surrounds the first inch or so of the urethra - the tube that carries urine from the bladder. It produces fluids for the semen, the thick, whitish fluid that carries sperm. For unknown reasons, the prostate often enlarges as men grow older. The growth may be benign or non-cancerous. At other times it is cancerous.
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed male cancer.
The incidence rate for prostate cancer is higher for black men and men who have a father or brother with a history of prostate cancer. The causes of prostate cancer are still unclear. Researchers are continuing to study causes, detection methods and improved treatment. Scientists are studying the possible role of a high fat diet. Because definite causes of this disease remain unknown, it is not yet possible to prevent prostate cancer.