Prostate cancer is a serious disease that affects men typically over the age of 50. It’s important to be able to recognize the signs of this potentially deadly cancer so you can take the necessary steps to monitor and treat it. Here are some of the common warning signs of prostate cancer.
The top three:
- Frequent urination, the urge to urinate frequently at night
- Blood in urine
- Blood in the seminal fluid
Sudden changes in urination
Your prostate gland is located just under your bladder and surrounds the urethra. This means that when you urinate, your bladder pushes its contents into the urethra and thus “through” the prostate gland. A tumor growth will change the size of your prostate which will, in turn, put pressure on both your bladder and your urethra. Ultimately, this could cause complications and changes in your urination. You might experience painful urination, frequent urination, loss of bladder control, or a reduced urinary velocity or flow.
Blood in urine or semen
Another hallmark sign of prostate cancer is blood showing up in your urine or your semen. This is not normal, and you should go to a doctor right away if you notice it. Bloody urine or semen might not mean prostate cancer, but it always means that you are experiencing a serious medical issue, like inflammation or infection.
Also watch out for these additional warning signs which can indicate that the cancer has spread outside of the prostate gland. This is called Metastatic Prostate Cancer, and while it can’t be cured, it can be controlled and managed.
- Pain or stiffness in the back, hips
- Swelling of the feet
- Weight loss and fatigue
Sometimes prostate cancer can spread to areas outside of your prostate gland, which can affect the tissues and bones nearby. If you are suffering from prostate cancer, you will probably experience pain and stiffness in your legs, lower back, hips, and pelvis. You may also notice that these areas feel numb or tight from time to time, depending on where the cancer is located. Other symptoms, such as feet swelling, weight loss, and fatigue, can also be present, but keep in mind that these symptoms can be related to a number of things, so you will need testing to identify the cause.
Prostate cancer screening tests
Prostate cancer screening tests are preventive health screenings you can get through your doctor or at community screenings. These medical screenings are important because early detection by way of preventive screening of cancer can significantly increase your chances of survival. Additionally, prostate cancer does not always have early warning signs, making the screenings even more important.
The PSA Test checks the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. It also appears in semen. The PSA test can detect whether the amount of the protein is high but other things such as enlarged prostate, without cancer, can also lead to a high PSA. This means that physical exam and possibly biopsy must be done before a diagnosis can be made. It is important to talk to your doctor about your PSA test in relation to your risk factors and overall health.
Roughly one of out nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point during their lifetime. If you notice any of these signs and symptoms listed above, or even if you don’t, it’s time to think about prostate cancer screening tests. Talk to your doctor about your risk.
Erectile dysfunction
ED can be a side effect of treatment for prostate cancer because the nerves and blood vessels that control erection may be damaged during surgery. The key is selecting a top notch team dedicated to preserving the nerves as much as possible. Men with intact nerves will generally recover within a year.
https://www.menshealth.com/health/a19546495/prostate-cancer-symptoms/
https://www.pcf.org/about-prostate-cancer/what-is-prostate-cancer/prostate-cancer-symptoms-signs/
https://www.cancercenter.com/cancer-types/prostate-cancer/symptoms
https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/warning-signs-of-prostate-cancer/
https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/prostate-cancer/symptoms-and-signs
https://www.pcf.org/about-prostate-cancer/prostate-cancer-side-effects/erectile-dysfunction/
https://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/metastatic-prostate-cancer#1