Prostate information

About prostate cancer

ProstateCancerUK.Common.Models.Shared.SideNavItem?.Title

What is the prostate?

The prostate is a gland. It is usually the size and shape of a walnut and grows bigger as you get older. It sits underneath the bladder and surrounds the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine (wee) out of the body. The prostate's main job is to help make semen – the fluid that carries sperm.

The most common prostate problems are an enlarged prostate, prostatitis and prostate cancer.

Publications Booklet Stickman

Know your prostate booklet

This booklet is a guide to the prostate – what it is, what it does, and what can go wrong with it.

Download or order booklet

Who has a prostate?

The following people have a prostate:

  • men
  • trans women*
  • non-binary people who were assigned male at birth**
  • some intersex people.***

* A trans woman is someone who was assigned male at birth but identifies as a woman. Trans women can develop prostate problems, even if they have taken hormones. The prostate is not removed during genital reconstructive surgery.
** A non-binary person may not identify as a man or a woman.
*** An intersex person may have both male and female sexual characteristics and so might have a prostate.

Trans, non-binary or intersex?

The information on this website has been developed based on guidance and evidence in men. If you are a trans woman, male-assigned non-binary or intersex, some of this information is still relevant to you – but your experience may be slightly different. Find out more about trans women and prostate cancer.

What is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer can develop when cells in the prostate start to grow in an uncontrolled way.

Some prostate cancer grows too slowly to cause any problems or affect how long you live. Because of this, many men with prostate cancer will never need any treatment.

But some prostate cancer grows quickly and is more likely to spread. This is more likely to cause problems and needs treatment to stop it spreading.

Signs and symptoms

Prostate cancer that’s contained inside the prostate (called localised prostate cancer or early prostate cancer) doesn’t usually cause any symptoms. That's why it's important to know about your risk.

But some men might have some urinary problems. These can be mild and happen over many years and may be a sign of a benign prostate problem, rather than prostate cancer.

Find out more information about the possible symptoms of prostate cancer.

If you think you might be at risk of prostate cancer or are experiencing any symptoms, visit your GP or speak to our Specialist Nurses.

If you’re not sure about what to say to your GP, print and fill out this form and show it to them. This will help you have the conversation.

Are you at risk?

In the UK, about 1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime.

Prostate cancer mainly affects men over 50, and your risk increases with age. The risk is even higher for black men and men with a family history of prostate cancer.

Find out more about your risk.

See and share our infographic on prostate cancer risk.

Facts and figures

Below are some of the very basic facts and figures about prostate cancer. 

Across the UK

  • Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men.
  • More than 52,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year on average – that's 143 men every day.
  • Every 45 minutes one man dies from prostate cancer – that's more than 12,000 men every year.
  • 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
  • Around 475,000 men are living with and after prostate cancer.

In England

  • More than 47,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in England.
  • More than 10,000 men die from prostate cancer every year in England.
  • Every hour, one man dies from prostate cancer in England.
  • More than 410,000 men are living with and after prostate cancer in England.

In Scotland

  • More than 3,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in Scotland.
  • Around 1,000 men die from prostate cancer every year in Scotland.
  • More than 30,000 men are living with and after prostate cancer in Scotland.

In Wales

  • More than 3,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in Wales.
  • Around 600 men die from prostate cancer every year in Wales.
  • Around 21,000 men are living with and after prostate cancer in Wales.

In Northern Ireland

  • More than 1,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in Northern Ireland.
  • More than 250 men die every year from prostate cancer in Northern Ireland.
  • More than 12,000 men are living with and after prostate cancer in Northern Ireland.

References and reviewers

Updated: June 2022 | Due for Review: July 2023

  • Aaron L, Franco O, Hayward S. Review of Prostate Anatomy and Embryology and the Etiology of BPH. Urol Clin North Am. 2016;43(3):279-288. doi:10.1016/j.ucl.2016.04.012
  • Ahmed HU, El-Shater Bosaily A, Brown LC, et al. Diagnostic accuracy of multi-parametric MRI and TRUS biopsy in prostate cancer (PROMIS): a paired validating confirmatory study. The Lancet. Published online January 2017. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)32401-1
  • Alcaraz A, Hammerer P, Tubaro A, Schröder FH, Castro R. Is There Evidence of a Relationship between Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Prostate Cancer? Findings of a Literature Review. Eur Urol. 2009;55(4):864-875. doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2008.11.011
  • Allott EH, Masko EM, Freedland SJ. Obesity and Prostate Cancer: Weighing the Evidence. Eur Urol. 2013;63(5):800-809. doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2012.11.013
  • Barber L, Gerke T, Markt SC, et al. Family History of Breast or Prostate Cancer and Prostate Cancer Risk. Clin Cancer Res. 2018;24(23):5910-5917. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-18-0370
  • Acute prostatitis - Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment | BMJ Best Practice. Published 2018. Accessed January 4, 2019. https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/172?q=Prostatitis&c=suggested
  • Brede CM, Shoskes DA. The etiology and management of acute prostatitis. Nat Rev Urol. 2011;8(4):207-212. doi:10.1038/nrurol.2011.22
  • Cancer Research UK. Cancer incidence for common cancers (2015). Accessed December 12, 2018. http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/incidence/common-cancers-compared
  • Cancer Research UK. Prostate cancer incidence statistics: Prostate cancer incidence by age (2011-2013). Accessed December 12, 2018. http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/prostate-cancer/incidence
  • Cao Y, Ma J. Body Mass Index, Prostate Cancer-Specific Mortality, and Biochemical Recurrence: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Cancer Prev Res (Phila Pa). 2011;4(4):486-501. doi:10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-10-0229
  • Clinical Effectiveness Group - British Association of Sexual Health and HIV. United Kingdom National guideline for the management of prostatitis (2008). Published online 2008.
  • Coker TJ, Dierfeldt DM. Acute Bacterial Prostatitis: Diagnosis and Management. Am Fam Physician. 2016;93(2):114-120.
  • Collin SM, Metcalfe C, Donovan J, et al. Associations of lower urinary tract symptoms with prostate-specific antigen levels, and screen-detected localized and advanced prostate cancer: a case-control study nested within the UK population-based ProtecT (Prostate testing for cancer and Treatment) study. BJU Int. 2008;102(0):1400-1406. doi:10.1111/j.1464-410X.2008.07817.x
  • Conti DV, Wang K, Sheng X, et al. Two Novel Susceptibility Loci for Prostate Cancer in Men of African Ancestry. JNCI J Natl Cancer Inst. 2017;109(8). doi:10.1093/jnci/djx084
  • Cozar JM, Robles-Fernandez I, Martinez-Gonzalez LJ, et al. Genetic markers a landscape in prostate cancer. Mutat Res Mutat Res. 2018;775:1-10. doi:10.1016/j.mrrev.2017.11.004
  • Discacciati A, Orsini N, Wolk A. Body mass index and incidence of localized and advanced prostate cancer--a dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. Ann Oncol. 2012;23(7):1665-1671. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdr603
  • Eeles R, Goh C, Castro E, et al. The genetic epidemiology of prostate cancer and its clinical implications. Nat Rev Urol. 2014;11(1):18-31. doi:10.1038/nrurol.2013.266
  • Ellent E, Matrana MR. Metastatic Prostate Cancer 35 Years After Sex Reassignment Surgery. Clin Genitourin Cancer. 2016;14(2):e207-e209. doi:10.1016/j.clgc.2015.11.007
  • Emberton M, Fitzpatrick JM, Garcia-Losa M, Qizilbash N, Djavan B. Progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia: systematic review of the placebo arms of clinical trials. BJU Int. 2008;102(8):981-986. doi:10.1111/j.1464-410X.2008.07717.x
  • Engeler D, Baranowski AP, Berghmans B, et al. EAU Guidelines on Chronic Pelvic Pain. Published online 2019.
  • Gacci M, Eardley I, Giuliano F, et al. Critical Analysis of the Relationship Between Sexual Dysfunctions and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Due to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. Eur Urol. 2011;60(4):809-825. doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2011.06.037
  • Gooren L, Morgentaler A. Prostate cancer incidence in orchidectomised male-to-female transsexual persons treated with oestrogens. Andrologia. 2014;46(10):1156-1160. doi:10.1111/and.12208
  • Gravas S, Cornu JN, Gacci M, et al. EAU Guidelines on Management of Non-Neurogenic Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS), incl. Benign Prostatic Obstruction (BPO). Published online 2022.
  • Häggström C, Stocks T, Ulmert D, et al. Prospective study on metabolic factors and risk of prostate cancer: Metabolic Factors and Prostate Cancer. Cancer. 2012;118(24):6199-6206. doi:10.1002/cncr.27677
  • Ho T, Gerber L, Aronson WJ, et al. Obesity, Prostate-Specific Antigen Nadir, and Biochemical Recurrence After Radical Prostatectomy: Biology or Technique? Results from the SEARCH Database. Eur Urol. 2012;62(5):910-916. doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2012.08.015
  • Jones AL, Chinegwundoh F. Update on prostate cancer in black men within the UK. Ecancermedicalscience. 2014;8:455. doi:10.3332/ecancer.2014.455
  • Jones D, Friend C, Dreher A, Allgar V, Macleod U. The diagnostic test accuracy of rectal examination for prostate cancer diagnosis in symptomatic patients: a systematic review. BMC Fam Pract. 2018;19:79. doi:10.1186/s12875-018-0765-y
  • Kakhki VRD, Anvari K, Sadeghi R, Mahmoudian AS, Torabian-Kakhki M. Pattern and distribution of bone metastases in common malignant tumors. :4.
  • Kasivisvanathan V, Rannikko AS, Borghi M, et al. MRI-Targeted or Standard Biopsy for Prostate-Cancer Diagnosis. N Engl J Med. Published online March 18, 2018. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1801993
  • Kheirandish P, Chinegwundoh F. Ethnic differences in prostate cancer. Br J Cancer. 2011;105(4):481-485. doi:10.1038/bjc.2011.273
  • Kiciński M, Vangronsveld J, Nawrot TS. An Epidemiological Reappraisal of the Familial Aggregation of Prostate Cancer: A Meta-Analysis. PLoS ONE. 2011;6(10):e27130. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0027130
  • Kirby M, Chapple C, Jackson G, et al. Erectile dysfunction and lower urinary tract symptoms: a consensus on the importance of co-diagnosis. Int J Clin Pract. 2013;67(7):606-618. doi:10.1111/ijcp.12176
  • Lamy PJ, Trétarre B, Rebillard X, Sanchez M, Cénée S, Ménégaux F. Family history of breast cancer increases the risk of prostate cancer: results from the EPICAP study. Oncotarget. Published online May 4, 2018. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.25320
  • Lloyd T, Hounsome L, Mehay A, Mee S, Verne J, Cooper A. Lifetime risk of being diagnosed with, or dying from, prostate cancer by major ethnic group in England 2008–2010. BMC Med. 2015;13(1). doi:10.1186/s12916-015-0405-5
  • Lukacz ES, Sampselle C, Gray M, et al. A healthy bladder: a consensus statement. Int J Clin Pract. 2011;65(10):1026-1036.
  • Molokwu CN, Applebaum JS, Miksad RA. Detection of prostate cancer following gender reassignment. BJU Int. 2008;101(2):257-257.
  • Mucci LA, Hjelmborg JB, Harris JR, et al. Familial Risk and Heritability of Cancer Among Twins in Nordic Countries. JAMA. 2016;315(1):68. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.17703
  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Lower urinary tract symptoms in men: management. Published online 2015:26.
  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. LUTS in men | Health topics A to Z | CKS | NICE. Published 2019. Accessed June 28, 2022. https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/luts-in-men/
  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Prostate cancer: diagnosis and management. Published online 2021.
  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Suspected cancer: recognition and referral. NICE guideline 12. Published online September 2020. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng12
  • Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. Prostate specific antigen testing: advice for well men aged 50 and over. Published online March 2022. Accessed January 27, 2022. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prostate-specific-antigen-testing-description-in-brief
  • Ørsted DD, Bojesen SE. The link between benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer. Nat Rev Urol. 2012;10(1):49-54. doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.192
  • Perez-Cornago A, Appleby PN, Pischon T, et al. Tall height and obesity are associated with an increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer: results from the EPIC cohort study. BMC Med. 2017;15(1). doi:10.1186/s12916-017-0876-7
  • Popiolek M, Rider JR, Andrén O, et al. Natural History of Early, Localized Prostate Cancer: A Final Report from Three Decades of Follow-up. Eur Urol. 2013;63(3):428-435. doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2012.10.002
  • Prostate cancer - Should I have a PSA test? nhs.uk. Published April 9, 2018. Accessed January 27, 2022. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/should-i-have-psa-test/
  • Prostate cancer risk management programme: overview. GOV.UK. Accessed June 13, 2022. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prostate-cancer-risk-management-programme-overview
  • Prostate Cancer UK. Consensus statements on PSA testing in asymptomatic men in the UK. Published online March 2016. www.prostatecanceruk.org/PSAconsensusHP
  • Rebbeck TR, Devesa SS, Chang BL, et al. Global Patterns of Prostate Cancer Incidence, Aggressiveness, and Mortality in Men of African Descent. Prostate Cancer. 2013;2013:1-12. doi:10.1155/2013/560857
  • Rebbeck TR. Prostate Cancer Genetics: Variation by Race, Ethnicity, and Geography. Semin Radiat Oncol. 2017;27(1):3-10. doi:10.1016/j.semradonc.2016.08.002
  • Rees J, Abrahams M, Doble A, Cooper A, the Prostatitis Expert Reference Group (PERG). Diagnosis and treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a consensus guideline. BJU Int. 2015;116(4):509-525. doi:10.1111/bju.13101
  • Rees J, Bultitude M, Challacombe B. The management of lower urinary tract symptoms in men. BMJ. 2014;348(1):g3861-g3861. doi:10.1136/bmj.g3861
  • Schenk JM, Kristal AR, Arnold KB, et al. Association of Symptomatic Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Prostate Cancer: Results from the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial. Am J Epidemiol. 2011;173(12):1419-1428. doi:10.1093/aje/kwq493
  • Shoskes DA. The Challenge of Erectile Dysfunction in the Man with Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome. Curr Urol Rep. 2012;13(4):263-267. doi:10.1007/s11934-012-0254-0
  • Speakman M, Kirby R, Doyle S, Ioannou C. Burden of male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) - focus on the UK: Burden of male LUTS suggestive of BPH. BJU Int. 2015;115(4):508-519. doi:10.1111/bju.12745
  • Wong SK, Mohamad NV, Giaze TR, Chin KY, Mohamed N, Ima-Nirwana S. Prostate Cancer and Bone Metastases: The Underlying Mechanisms. Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(10):2587. doi:10.3390/ijms20102587
  • World Cancer Research Fund. World Cancer Research Fund. Diet, nutrition, physical activity and prostate cancer. Published online 2018.
  • Young JM, Muscatello DJ, Ward JE. Are men with lower urinary tract symptoms at increased risk of prostate cancer? A systematic review and critique of the available evidence. BJU Int. 2000;85:1037-1048.

.

Facts and figures

Updated: June 2022 | Due for Review: June 2023

This information has been reviewed for accuracy and updated by:

  • our Health Information team
  • our Specialist Nurses.

 

You may also be interested in...

Prostate information

Read reliable and up-to-date information about prostate cancer and prostate problems.
Learn More

Prostate cancer treatments

There are many different types of prostate cancer treatments. You may have different options depending on the stage and grade of your cancer.
Learn More

Know your prostate: A guide to common prostate problems

Know your prostate - explains what the prostate is, what it does and what can go wrong with it.
Learn More

Wellbeing Hub

Being diagnosed and living with prostate cancer can be hard to deal with. We have created this wellbeing hub to help support you in looking after your emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing.
Learn More