How can I recognize early warning signs of prostate cancer?
Here are some potential early warning signs of prostate cancer to look out for:
Frequent urination, especially at night –
Difficulty urinating –
Trouble starting a urine stream, dribbling, or
straining while urinating can be a sign of an enlarged prostate or tumor growth
causing a blockage.
Weak urine stream –
Decreased force and flow of urine could mean
the urethra is being compressed or blocked by an enlarged prostate or tumor.
Blood in urine or semen –
Any presence of blood, even microscopic
amounts, could indicate inflammation, infection or cancerous growth in the
prostate.
Discomfort in the pelvic area –
A dull ache or pain in the lower abdomen,
pelvic area, lower back or genital area that persists could signal prostate
problems.
Erectile dysfunction –
Difficulty achieving or maintaining an
erection may occur from damaged nerves or reduced blood flow from an enlarged
or cancerous prostate.
Unexplained weight loss –
Losing weight unexpectedly could signify
advanced prostate cancer.
Keep in mind many conditions can cause these
symptoms, so it's important to see a doctor promptly for an exam and testing if
you notice any persistent urinary or sexual difficulties. The earlier prostate
cancer is detected, the better the outcomes tend to be. Annual screening
starting at age 50-55 is recommended for prostate cancer risk assessment.
What are the common symptoms of prostate cancer?
Here are some of the most common symptoms
associated with prostate cancer:
Frequent urination –
Feeling the need to urinate more often,
especially at night, is a common early symptom as the prostate enlarges and
presses on the bladder.
Weak or interrupted urine flow –
The urinary stream may become weakened,
dribble or be interrupted due to obstruction from an enlarged prostate.
Pain or burning during urination –
Discomfort, stinging or pain while urinating
can indicate infection, inflammation or enlargement of the prostate.
Blood in the urine or semen –
The presence of blood, which may be visible or
only detected microscopically, could indicate prostate cancer.
Difficulty getting an erection –
As the prostate cancer advances, it can spread
to the nerves and arteries that control sexual function. This can make
achieving an erection difficult.
Discomfort in the pelvis, lower back, thighs
or hips –
Prostate cancer may spread to the bones in
these areas and cause pain. The pain is often worse at night.
Loss of bladder and bowel control –
Advanced prostate cancer can sometimes impair
bladder and bowel control if it presses on the spinal cord.
Fatigue and body aches –
Cancer can cause excess fatigue through its
effects on the body. Generalized aches and pains may also occur.
Unexplained weight loss –
Some with prostate cancer experience weight
loss from cancer-related effects on appetite regulation.
Consult with a doctor promptly if you
experience any persistent urinary, sexual or other concerning symptoms for
evaluation. Catching prostate cancer early is key.
What are the signs of advanced prostate
cancer?
Here are some potential signs that prostate
cancer may be more advanced:
Bone pain –
Advanced prostate cancer often spreads to the
bones, which can cause pain in the hips, back, ribs or other areas. This bone
pain is typically worse at night.
Leg weakness or numbness –
Spread of prostate cancer into the spine can
compress nerves leading to weakness or numbing sensations in the legs and feet.
Loss of bladder/bowel control –
In advanced stages, cancer pressing on the
spinal cord can cause a loss of bladder or bowel control. This is a neurologic
emergency.
Fatigue –
Advanced cancer often causes fatigue, weakness
and low energy levels as the body works harder to fight the disease.
Shortness of breath –
If the cancer has spread to lungs or fluid has
built up in the chest, breathing difficulties can occur.
Unintended weight loss –
Significant weight loss from loss of appetite
and increased metabolism can indicate advancing prostate cancer.
Swelling in the legs –
Spread of the cancer to lymph nodes and veins
can obstruct blood flow, causing swelling/edema in the legs.
High PSA levels –
Very elevated and rising PSA levels over
20-100 ng/mL can indicate advanced or aggressive prostate cancer.
High blood calcium levels –
Metastatic prostate cancer can raise calcium
levels by releasing a hormone that mobilizes calcium from bone.
If you notice any of these signs, it is
important to promptly follow up with your doctor for evaluation and testing, as
advanced prostate cancer requires urgent treatment.
How are prostate cancer symptoms diagnosed?
There are several tests and procedures doctors
use to diagnose prostate cancer if symptoms are present:
Physical exam –
A digital rectal exam allows the doctor to
feel the prostate for any abnormalities in size, shape or texture that could
indicate a tumor.
PSA test –
Testing the level of prostate-specific antigen
(PSA) in the blood can indicate potential prostate issues. Generally, a PSA
over 4.0 ng/mL is considered elevated.
Urine and blood tests –
Testing the urine and blood can check for
tumor markers and whether cancer may have spread.
Transrectal ultrasound –
An ultrasound probe in the rectum can allow
visualization of the prostate and any lesions. It may be used during a biopsy.
Prostate biopsy –
Removing small samples of prostate tissue for
microscopic analysis can definitively diagnose prostate cancer if cancerous
cells are found.
mpMRI –
A specialized MRI scan can help visualize the
prostate and guide biopsy sampling. It can also help assess cancer
aggressiveness.
Bone scan –
A nuclear imaging test can detect prostate
cancer that has spread to the bone. Radioactive material is injected into the
blood to highlight areas of bone damage.
CT scan –
A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis can spot
enlarged lymph nodes that could indicate advanced prostate cancer.
Chest X-ray –
An X-ray image of the chest may be done to
determine if lung lesions are present if prostate cancer has potentially
spread.
The combination of PSA testing, DRE exam,
biopsy and advanced imaging provides the most accurate diagnosis so the right
treatment can be started.










