WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF PROSTATE CANCER?
Localized and curable prostate cancer has no symptoms. If you are experiencing a decrease in the force of the urinary stream or other voiding issues, this is most likely due to BPH and not prostate cancer. If it turns out that you do have localized prostate cancer and some problems with urination, BPH is occurring coincidentally with the prostate cancer. Men with advanced prostate cancer may have similar symptoms as men with BPH including obstruction of the urinary flow, blood in the urine, painful urination, and urgent urination but localized and curable prostate cancer most often has no symptoms. Therefore, screening is vital for early detection.
If the cancer is caught at its earliest stages, most men will not experience any symptoms. Some men, however, will experience symptoms such as frequent, hesitant, or burning urination, difficulty in having an erection, or pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips or upper thighs. Because these symptoms can also indicate the presence of other diseases or disorders, men who experience any of these symptoms will undergo a thorough work-up to determine the underlying cause of the symptoms. Visit the Prostate Cancer Symptoms section for more information.
In the early stages, prostate cancer often causes no symptoms for many years. As a matter of fact, these cancers frequently are first detected by an abnormality on a blood test (the PSA, discussed below) or as a hard nodule (lump) in the prostate gland. Usually, the doctor first feels the nodule during a routine digital (done with the finger) rectal examination. The prostate gland is located immediately in front of the rectum. As the cancer enlarges and presses on the urethra, the flow of urine diminishes and urination becomes more difficult. Patients may also experience burning with urination or blood in the urine. As the tumor continues to grow, it can completely block the flow of urine, resulting in a painfully obstructed and enlarged urinary bladder. In the later stages, prostate cancer can spread locally into the surrounding tissue or the nearby lymph nodes, called the pelvic nodes. The cancer then can spread even farther (metastasize) to other areas of the body. The doctor on a r
