Prostate awareness > Common diseases
Because the prostate surrounds the urethra, any disease of the gland is likely to cause disturbances in urinary flow, and in the frequency and efficiency with which the bladder is emptied. There are three common diseases that may affect the prostate:
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Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: BPH, which results in frequent urination and a reduced urinary stream, and affects almost 50% of men beyond middle age.
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Prostate Cancer: This is now the most common malignancy in men with a 1 in 14 lifetime risk, rising to 1 in 11 for men over 50 years of age
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Prostatitis: An inflammatory disease affecting about 1 in 15 mainly younger and middle-aged men, which is characterized by symptoms of pain and discomfort around the anus, scrotum and the area in between (the perineum).
Each condition is described in later sections, starting with prostate cancer, which is potentially by far the most serious, and then BPH, easily the most common, and concluding with prostatitis which, though less serious than prostate cancer and less common than BPH, can cause distressing and debilitating symptoms among its many sufferers.