Prostate surgery involves surgical removal of part or all of the prostate, the walnut-sized gland just below the bladder in men that produces some of the fluid in semen. How much is removed depends on whether there is benign (non-cancerous) disease or cancer present. When men reach their mid-forties, the prostate gland begins to enlarge. This condition, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), affects the urethra, the tube leading urine from the bladder out of the body, and makes urination difficult. An operation called transurethral resection of the prostate removes the prostate tissue that is blocking the urethra. This is usually done by inserting a tube through the penis to the prostate. If cancer occurs, removing all of the prostate (known as radical prostatectomy) is a way to eliminate the cancer when it is confined to the prostate.