Prostate cancer has plagued man kind for years because it only occurs in males.  The prostate gland is about the size of a walnut, and surrounds the part of the urethra that is located just below the urinary bladder and in front of the rectum. Prostate secretions pass into the urethra through several ducts and are believed to increase the motility of sperm. It helps to control the rate at which urine flows out of the bladder and into the urethra. It does this by the effect of muscle fibers in the prostate that surround the urethra.

     The gland may enlarge in old age and obstruct the urethra. Or even worse cancer may set in.  One in eight men receive prostate cancer and is the most common type of cancer in men in America.  It is usually found in older men, mostly 55 years and above, and the risk of having prostate cancer increases with age.  In this disease cancer cells are first formed in the prostate and can then spread to other parts of the body, particularly the bones and other selected structures. 

A man can actually have prostate cancer for many years before symptoms become apparent. 

Symptoms may be one or more of the following: 

• frequent urination ( especially at night),
• inability to urinate,
• trouble starting or holding back urination,
• pain on ejaculation,
• a weak or interrupted urine flow,
• pain or a burning feeling during urination,
• blood in the urine or semen,
• frequent pain  or stiffness in lower back, hips, or upper thighs.

Information gathered from http://comed.com/Prostate/Faqs.html