What is prostate cancer?


Prostate cancer is a malignant (cancerous) tumor that usually begins in the outer part of the prostate. In most men, the cancer grows very slowly. In fact, many men with the disease will never know they had the condition. Early prostate cancer is limited to the prostate gland itself, and most patients with this type of cancer can live for years with no problems.


What is the prostate and what does it do?

The prostate is a muscular, walnut-sized gland that surrounds part of the urethra, the tube that carries urine and sperm out of the body. (A gland is a group of cells that secretes chemicals that act on or control the activity of other cells or organs.)


During sexual climax (orgasm), the muscles of the prostate tighten to push the semen through the urethra and out through the penis (ejaculation). The urethra also carries urine, a waste product made by the kidneys and stored in the bladder. When the penis is erect during sexual intercourse, the flow of urine is blocked from the urethra, ensuring that it is only semen that is ejaculated in an orgasm.

Where is the prostate located?


What causes prostate cancer?


What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer, by nature, is “silent” in its early stages. Its symptoms don't appear until later, when patients may notice a need to urinate frequently, particularly at night. Prostate cancer may also cause other problems with urination, including:

  • Having trouble urinating;
  • A flow of urine that is weak or stops and starts; or,
  • Painful and burning urination.

Other symptoms may include:

  • Painful ejaculation
  • Blood in urine or semen, and,
  • Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or legs.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 07/24/2015.


  • National Cancer Institute. Prostate cancer—for patients Accessed 4/16/18.
  • American Cancer Society. Prostate cancer Accessed 4/16/18.
  • Corn P, Logothetis C. Chapter 34. Prostate Cancer. In: Kantarjian HM, Wolff RA, Koller CA. eds. The MD Anderson Manual of Medical Oncology, 2e. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2011.
