Signs and Symptoms of Prostate Cancer
Early-stage (low-risk) prostate cancer rarely causes any signs or symptoms. If cancer cells are only found in your prostate, it can take many years before a prostate tumour (cancerous growth) can get big enough to cause symptoms or for doctors to find it. Even for advanced stages of prostate cancer, there might be no symptoms showing. However, if you do have concerns, you should see your doctor. The symptoms listed here can also be due to non-cancerous conditions such as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH).
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Early-Stage Prostate Cancer?
Signs and symptoms of prostate cancer may include:
Needing to urinate frequently, including during the night
Needing to urinate urgently but feeling that the bladder is not empty afterwards
Having a weak, slow, interrupted flow of urine
An inability to pass urine (urinary retention)
Blood in urine or semen
Feeling pain or burning when urinating
Unexplained weight loss and fatigue
Pain in the lower back, hips, pelvis or chest
Having trouble getting an erection
Other conditions of the prostate
The symptoms listed above could also be due to other non-cancerous prostate conditions including:
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH):
As men get older, this prostate condition becomes more common. BPH is the non-cancerous enlargement the prostate gland that compresses the urethra and causes obstruction to urine flow.
Prostatitis:
Prostatitis is the inflammation of the prostate gland due to a bacterial or non-bacterial infection.
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI):
Another common problem men might experience is a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) which can lead to similar symptoms of prostate cancer. UTI’s can occur when bacteria enters the urinary tract, which can lead to an infection of the organs that produce, store and discharge urine (e.g. bladder and kidneys).
What is my risk of developing Prostate Cancer?
The causes of prostate cancer are not entirely clear. However, according to Healthy Male | Andrology Australia, risk factors that have been linked to prostate cancer include:
Family history of cancer
Older age (50+)
A history of low fertility levels
Being overweight
How is Prostate Cancer detected and diagnosed?
If you think you are experiencing symptoms of prostate cancer, you should consult with your doctor for further medical advice.
Refer to our article about the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test for more information on how prostate cancer is detected and diagnosed. The Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test may detect prostate cancer before it causes symptoms and/or when it is still confined within the prostate gland (localised).
References:
https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/prostate-cancer/symptoms/
https://www.cancer.org.au/about-cancer/types-of-cancer/prostate-cancer/prostate-cancer-symptoms.html
https://www.healthymale.org.au/mens-health/prostate-cancer#anchor-230
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/prostate-cancer
If you are reading this article before October 2020 and have recently been diagnosed with early-stage, low-risk prostate cancer, please consider joining our research trial www.navigateprostate.com.au to help navigate your treatment options.
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