WARNING: The Embarrassing Bodies website contains images of an explicit medical nature and nudity in a medical context.

Conditions

Prostate Cancer

A microscopic view of prostate cancer cells (Photo courtesy of NCI - Online Otis Brawley)

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, responsible for approximately 9,000 deaths in England and Wales every year. However, as the causes of the disease are largely unknown, the cancer is as mysterious as the gland itself, which is unique to men and assumed by many to regulate the flow of urine, but is actually part of the male reproductive system (sometimes delightfully referred to as the ‘Secret Sex Gland’!) The risk of developing prostate cancer increases with age (70% of all cases occur in men over the age of 65), whilst diet and ethnicity can also play a role. So, if you have any issues with peeing (such as pain or a weak and irregular flow), or find that the best exercise you’re getting is the several times a night you’re having to throw back the bed covers to nip down the hallway to the toilet, then make an appointment to see your GP.

Comments and Questions

The EB doctors have been looking at your comments and have answered some of the common questions below. Remember that it is always best to check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.

You can share your experiences and thoughts with other Embarrassing Bodies site-users below. Comments & Questions are reviewed by moderators, but if you see anything on the site that worries you, please report it and one of our moderators will look at it as soon as possible.
Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.

For the First time in 27 Years I went to the Doctor because of Chest Pains. Here in fuengirola they seem to be very thorough, with the result that i have been for all sorts of Tests for all sorts of thing. Including prostate Cancer. I have no Symptoms indicating Prostate Cancer. The Digital test for Prostate cancer indicated that all was Satisfacory. However it was recomended that I have a Biopsy. Having read up what is involved I am reluctant to go ahead with this. As I feel that being an invassive proceedure it may well cause Cancer which is not there at the moment.





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

I'v Been Told, Does Male Masterbation Lower The Risk Of Prostate Cancer? (I'm 13 Years Old)





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

Hi, Im 34, nearly 35 and today I noticed some blood in my urine. Ive never noticed this before and when I went to the toilet later it seemed to be normal. I know I could well be dehydrated as with my new job I dont drink as much water during the working day as I used to. The last few days Ive had a slight burning when I urinate. Several months ago, I also noticed a few occasions where there was blood in my semen. I put it down to a few blood vessls having burst in the penis as it was intermittent. Am I too young for prostate cancer? Id appreciate any advice, thank you.





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

Age is not something that illness takes into account. Please make an appointment with your doctor as soon as you can and get checked out. If only for your peace of mind.

Thanks for your comment. I went to the doctor, and was diagnosed with a severe UTI or urinary tract infection. I was put on antibiotics and fully checked over and apart from that I am in perfect health. The pills cleared up the infection and everything is back to the way it should be. Thanks again, Andrew.

Following a routine PSA test for my employer over six years ago I was finally diagnosed with prostate cancer 08/03/2010. I have lost all faith in my consultant and have not, as yet, been referred to another specialist as requested. In the mean-time I have been researching treatments on the net and find that there are alternatives to what I frankly concider as total butchery - radical prostate removal - namely HiFu or Focal HiFu which would appear to be much quicker and must be cheaper for the NHS in every respect. Can I get this on the NHS and why is it not more openly available? PS if you want me to come on the show to highlight this issue I'm your guinea pig!!





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your answer.


Please don't swear or be rude in your answers, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting answers. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

Questions submitted to the site will be answered by other site users, not by medical professionals, so if you have a medical concern, please book an appointment with your GP.

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

I am 66 year old male and since finishing treatment for Prostate Cancer I am finding I am needing to pass water far more frequently especially at night when I am sometimes having to get up 2 or 3 times. I have tried avoiding drinks late in the evening but to no avail. My PSA is down to 1.5 so I know that it is not the Cancer returning. Can you make any suggestions as to how I could control this or is it just an age thing





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your answer.


Please don't swear or be rude in your answers, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting answers. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

Questions submitted to the site will be answered by other site users, not by medical professionals, so if you have a medical concern, please book an appointment with your GP.

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

hi i am a 45 year old male, when i went to the toilet one night to pass stools i pushed down and passed urine at the same time an got a very sharp pain in my penis followed by slight blood and ever since then every time i go to pass urine i get a sharp pain in my penis towards the end of passing water





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

Hi, I am a 42 year old man and I think that I am developing prostate problems. I urinate quite frequently and sometimes I have an urge to 'go' that is so strong I feel that I am going to pee for ever but the amount of urine I pass is quite small. I am also peeing up to 5 or 6 times during the night and again the amount of urine on each 'visit' is quite small. I am confused by all of this, don't really understand the complexities of the Prostate and do not want to waste any Doctor's time but I have to admit I am starting to worry. Another strange thing is that although I have an active sex life, masturbate regularly as I have done since Puberty, sometimes now when I ejaculate the sensation I get when I'm 'coming' is slightly duller and not as intense and 'sharp' than it used to be.I don't know if this is linked or anything to do with the Prostate too! Any help would be much appreciated.





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

hi there i just have a questio to ask my father died of prostrate cancer is it pass on in the genes as he died at 68 and i am 34 thanks





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

Hi Kevin There is a very high chance that it could be passed on. My farther died of it in 1987 aged 81 he did not know he had it. I was diagnosed with it in 2007 but I was being monitored from 2000. Now 3 years later it has turned aggressive. Just been for a bone scan today. I have told my son to get checked regularly and he is only 32. So get yourself down to the Doc's

hi alan thanks for your reply and i shall go to the docs to get my self checked thanks agan

I am a 45 year old man and have a constant urge to go to the toilet quite frequently in the middle of the night and especially after having a drink. Sometimes I cannot control it in which is now becoming embarrassing and now I have started to get a dull ache down below in which is concerning me. Should I see my GP as soon as possible ? Do you think it maybe an infection ?





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your answer.


Please don't swear or be rude in your answers, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting answers. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

Questions submitted to the site will be answered by other site users, not by medical professionals, so if you have a medical concern, please book an appointment with your GP.

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

Go see the Doc straight away dont be shy or afraid. You may not be emptying the bladder fully hence you top up quicker could be prostate cancer or may be another problem but do get it looked at.

my husband was diagnosed with advanced postate cancer last year aged 41 he had no symptoms just got tested for no reason really and its lucky he did otherwise he was told he would of had 18months to live if he hadnt been tested he had it robotically removed and is now on the mend so younger men can be affected





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.



Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your answer.



Please don't swear or be rude in your questions, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting questions. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

Questions submitted to the site will be answered by other site users, not by medical professionals, so if you have a medical concern, please book an appointment with your GP.

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines


Important Notice

The information provided on this website (including any NHS Choices medical information) is for use as information or for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care by a qualified doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. We do not warrant that any information included within this site will meet your health or medical requirements. This Embarrassing Bodies site does not provide any medical or diagnostic services so you should always check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.


If you want to embed our videos in your site, read our embedding T&Cs here


More Information

  1. Consultation: Prostate Cancer

    In Videos - Dr Jessen treats a patient whose Prostate Cancer has worsened in re…

  2. Prostate: Don't Die of Embarrassment

    In Videos - Dr Pixie presents a video looking at the prostate and the various p…

  3. Consultation: Prostate Cancer Surgery

    In Videos - Dr Christian meets a 69 year old patient who, after suffering from…

  4. Embarrassing Old Bodies Special

    In Episodes - The Embarrassing Bodies clinic has opened its doors for a one off s…

  5. Men

    In Episodes - The EI Docs go in search of the most elusive creature in the doctor…

  6. Teens Below the Belt

    In Episodes - Episode 4 of Embarrassing Teenage Bodies tackles conditions includi…

  7. Boys, Boys, Boys

    In Episodes - Episode 3 of Embarrassing Teenage Bodies takes a closer look at bin…

  8. Am I Normal?

    In Episodes - Episode 2 of Embarrassing Teenage Bodies looks at conditions includ…

  9. Quick Health Advice: Moles

    In Videos - Dr Jessen advises on the kind of mole you should be looking out for…

  10. How To Check Your Vulva

    In Videos - Dr Harper's guide to how to self-check your vulva against vulval ca…

  11. How To Check Your Testicles

    In Videos - Dr Harper's guide to how to self-check your balls against testicula…

  12. How To Check Your Skin

    In Videos - Dr Jessen provides a quick guide on how to check and protect your s…

  13. Vaginas

    In Episodes - The EI team roll into Norwich to setup a clinic in one of the count…

  14. Consultation: Breast Reconstruction

    In Videos - Dr Jessen treats a breasts cancer survivor who wants to receive an…

  15. How To Check Your Breasts

    In Videos - Dr Harper's guide to how to self check your boobs for breast cancer.


Be On Embarrassing Bodies

If you have a medical condition that you’d like the doctors to look at then please contact the team on 0121 224 8395.
Apply for the show here >