1. Home ›
  2. Information and support ›
  3. Prostate cancer ›
  4. Advanced prostate cancer ›
  5. Understanding advanced prostate cancer ›
  6. The prostate

The prostate gland

The prostate is a small gland only found in men. It’s about the size of a walnut and gets a little bigger with age. It surrounds the first part of the tube (urethra) that carries urine from the bladder along the penis.

Male reproductive organs
Male reproductive organs

View a large version

Read a description of this image

The prostate produces a thick, white fluid that mixes with the sperm from the testicles to make semen. It also produces a protein called prostate-specific antigen (PSA) that turns the semen into liquid.

The prostate gland is surrounded by a sheet of muscle and a fibrous capsule. The growth of prostate cells and the way the prostate gland works depend on the male sex hormone testosterone. This is produced in the testicles.

The back of the prostate gland is close to the rectum (back passage). Near the prostate are collections of lymph nodes. These are small glands, each about the size of a baked bean. They form part of the lymphatic system.

Back to Understanding advanced prostate cancer

Cancer and cell types

Cancers are grouped into types. Types of cancer often behave and respond to treatments in different ways.

About advanced prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. Advanced prostate cancer is when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Why do cancers come back?

Sometimes, tiny cancer cells are left behind after cancer treatment. These can divide to form a new tumour.