The prostate is a gland found only in males. In younger men, it is about the size of a walnut, but it can be much larger in older men. The prostate is found below the bladder. It surrounds the first part of the tube (urethra), which carries urine from the bladder to the penis. The same tube also carries semen. The prostate gland is divided into 2 lobes, to the left and the right of a central groove.
The role of the prostate is to make some of the fluid that protects and nourishes sperm cells in semen, making the semen more liquid. The growth and function of the prostate depends on the male sex hormone testosterone, which is produced in the testes. Some treatments for prostate cancer work by lowering the levels of testosterone.
Several types of cells are found in the prostate, but almost all prostate cancers develop from the gland cells (the cells that make the prostate fluid that is added to the semen). As such, the information on this site refers to prostate cancer that has developed from gland cells.
Information about prostate cancer in Ireland, the signs and symptoms of the disease, the PSA blood test and prostate cancer treatment.
Find out about what the prostate is, what it does and what prostate cancer is.
Read about possible symptoms of prostate cancer and when to see your doctor.
This page tells you about the causes of prostate cancer and factors that can affect your risk of developing prostate cancer.
Find out more about the PSA blood test, how it works, what it does, its risks and benefits, and why there is no national screening programme for prostate cancer.
Find out more about the PSA blood test, how it works, what it does, its risks and benefits, and why there is no national screening programme for prostate cancer.
If you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, you may need further tests to see if the cancer has spread. This page tells you about some of these tests.
The stage of a cancer tells you how big it is and how far it’s spread. It helps your doctor decide which treatment you need.
Your treatment depends on where your cancer is, how big it is, whether it has spread anywhere else in your body and your general health. This page explains more.
Getting practical and emotional support can help you cope with a diagnosis of cancer, life during treatment and life after cancer.
Find out how prostate cancer and treatment can affect your relationship with your partner.
After treatment for prostate cancer you may have problems passing urine. These effects last for a few weeks for most people.
Men that test positive for the BRCA gene can be at a higher risk for developing prostate cancer.
Read the stories of 15 Irish men who have survived prostate cancer, including Tony Ward, Sean Boylan and Michael Murphy.
For the third installment of the Marie Keating Foundation Talks Cancer podcast, we will be #TalkingProstateCancer. Over the next five episodes with host Director of Nursing with The Marie Keating Foundation, Helen Forristal, the “Talking Prostate Cancer” series explores the facts around prostate cancer.
Highlighting the signs and symptoms, discussing the positive progress that has been made around treatment options & the impact of early detection, we’ll talk to experts in the field of prostate cancer along with hearing some honest and open conversations about what it is like to navigate a prostate cancer journey and the impact it can have on not only the person with a cancer diagnosis but also on their intimate relationships with partners, family, and close friends.
Subscribe today to make sure you don’t miss out.
With thanks to our co-sponsors…
Here’s a sneak peek at what to expect from this series of The Marie Keating Foundation Talks Cancer!
In the first episode of the series Director of Nursing and Urology Care Co-Ordinator, Helen Forristal and Liz McEvoy Urology Cancer coordinator at Tallaght University Hospital are getting the series off to a strong start exploring the facts, stats, and background to prostate cancer in Ireland.
Along with this insightful overview they answer the most frequent questions asked around prostate cancer like, what are the signs and symptoms, when to go to your GP, Family History and so much more.
In this episode we delve into treatment options for prostate cancer. We are incredibly lucky to have an esteemed line up of guests taking us through a number of treatment options in depth and discussing the necessary considerations when deciding on a treatment pathway.
Director of Nursing Helen Forristal is joined by Mr Richie Power from Beaumont Hospital, Dr Gerard McVey from St Luke’s Hospital and Dr Waseem Darwish from the Mater Hospital.
In this episode we have the privilege of speaking with patient advocate John Wall whom many of you will have heard of. John is a man living with advanced metastatic prostate cancer. In this episode he shares his story with incredible honesty discussing what living with cancer is like for him and how it impacts not only his life but also the lives of his loved ones.
He talks about his journey, treatments, side effects along with his overall emotions, wellbeing, and the impact on his quality of life.
In this episode we have the privilege of speaking with patient advocate Paul Ferris and his wife Geraldine. Former Newcastle United winger Paul Ferris was 51. He had successfully forged a post-football career as a physio, barrister and then a CEO, and his award-winning memoir, The Boy on the Shed, was just about to be published. But then he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
He talks openly about his experience with great humor and profound bravery. Paul’s wife Geraldine joins him for some of this episode to discuss the impact of a prostate cancer diagnosis within a relationship.
We are closing out this series with a powerful conversation about survivorship. What happens after treatment, how does it impact you physically and emotionally? We are privileged to be having a frank and open discussion with Ger O’Boyle around, infertility, urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, altered body image manhood and managing relationships. These are a reality for many, yet they sometimes stay silent for some for fear of stigma and judgment.
This is such a powerful and impactful conversation to share and inspire more open conversations amongst others facing these issues.
Our Prostate Campaigns
Yes, we use industry-standard SSL technology to keep your information secure. We partner with Stripe, the industry’s established payment provider trusted by some of the world’s largest companies. Your sensitive financial information never touches our servers. We send all data directly to Stripe’s PCI-compliant servers through SSL.
Your support will mean so much to men and women all over Ireland living with, or affected by cancer.
Support the 4,067 men diagnosed with prostate cancer every year by wearing the Marie Keating Foundation ‘Stand Up for Your Prostate’ pin during Blue September, Movember or at any other time of the year.
€3.00Add to basket
Living Loudly. Dying to be Heard: National Photography Exhibition Launches this weekend to Amplify Voices of Women Living with Advanced Breast Cancer
Living Loudly. Dying to be Heard: Perspectives on Advanced Breast Cancer Exhibition
Alive but Angry. Strong yet Shaken. The unseen side of prostate cancer
© Marie Keating Foundation 2026
Registered Charity: CHY 12916
Registered Charity Number: 20038953
