Symptoms of prostate cancer

Benign prostatic hyperplasia, a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland, is the most common benign tumor found in men. As is true for prostate cancer, BPH occurs more often in the West than in Eastern countries, such as Japan and China, and it may be more common among black people. Not long ago, a study found a possible genetic link for BPH in men younger than age 65 who have a very enlarged prostate: Their male relatives were four times more likely than other men to need BPH surgery at some point in their lives, and their brothers had a sixfold increase in risk. BPH produces symptoms by obstructing the flow of urine through the urethra. Symptoms related to BPH are present in about one in four men by age 55, and in half of 75-year-old men. However, treatment is only necessary if symptoms become bothersome. By age 80, some 20% to 30% of men experience BPH symptoms severe enough to require treatment. Surgery was the only option until the recent approval of minimally invasive procedures that open the prostatic urethra, and drugs that can relieve symptoms either by shrinking the prostate or by relaxing the prostate muscle tissue that constricts the urethra. Signs and Symptoms BPH symptoms can be divided into those caused directly by urethral obstruction and those due to secondary changes in the bladder. Typical obstructive symptoms are: • Difficulty starting to urinate despite pushing and straining • A weak stream of urine; several interruptions in the stream • Dribblin...

Hi. I'm Dr. Humphreys, a urologist at Mayo Clinic. In this video, we'll cover the basics of prostate cancer: What is it? Who gets it? The symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. Whether you're looking for answers about your own health or that of someone you love, we're here to provide you with the best information available. Prostate cancer, unfortunately, is common. It affects one in seven men, making it the second most common cancer among men worldwide. The good news is, is that prostate cancer can be curable, especially when identified and treated early. That is why I and most urologists and medical professionals you talk to encourage men over a certain age to get regular prostate screenings. First, let's talk about what the prostate is and how it functions. The prostate is a small gland that is involved in reproduction and makes some of the essential components in semen. While it is small, it has an important role in reproductive health and can cause voiding or urinary symptoms as men age, as well becoming a source of cancer. Like other kinds of cancer, prostate cancer starts when cells mutate. These small changes in DNA cause the cells to grow faster and live longer than they normally would. As these abnormal cells accumulate, they monopolize resources from normal cells, which can damage surrounding tissue. These cancerous cells can then spread to other parts of the body. Who gets it? By definition, prostate cancer only affects bodies with male reproductive organs. But in...

Prostate cancer develops in the prostate gland, a part of the reproductive system in men and people assigned male at birth. Many people choose active surveillance (no treatment) because prostate cancer tends to grow slowly and stay in the gland. For cancers that grow fast and spread, common treatments include radiation and surgery. 10 Warning Signs of Prostate Cancer What is prostate cancer? Prostate cancer develops in the Prostate cancer is a serious disease. Fortunately, most people with prostate cancer get diagnosed before it spreads beyond their prostate gland. Treatment at this stage often eliminates the cancer. What are the types of prostate cancer? If you’re diagnosed with prostate cancer, it’s most likely an Less common types of prostate cancers include: • Small cell carcinomas. • Transitional cell carcinomas. • • How common is prostate cancer? Prostate cancer is common, second only to Still, approximately 34,000 people in the United States die from prostate cancer each year. Symptoms and Causes Most prostate cancers grow slowly inside the prostate gland. What are the symptoms of prostate cancer? Early-stage prostate cancer rarely causes symptoms. These issues may occur as the disease progresses: • Frequent, sometimes urgent, need to pee, especially at night. • Weak urine flow or flow that starts and stops. • Pain or burning when you pee ( • Loss of bladder control ( • Loss of bowel control ( • Painful ejaculation and • Blood in semen ( • Pain in your low back, hip...

Most men are diagnosed before showing symptoms About 85 percent of prostate cancers are detected during Symptoms of Prostate Cancer Though early warning signs of prostate cancer are rare, sometimes men experience symptoms before they are Urinary Symptoms • A need to urinate frequently, especially at night • Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine • A weak or interrupted flow of urine • Painful or burning urination • Erectile and Ejaculatory Symptoms • Difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection • Painful ejaculation • Blood in the semen • Decreased volume of ejaculation (though hydration, diet and frequency of ejaculation are more likely than prostate cancer to impact the volume of fluid) Lower Extremity Symptoms • Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips or upper thighs • Swelling in the lower extremities If a patient experiences bone pain and swelling in the lower extremities—especially when accompanied by urinary, erectile or ejaculation dysfunction—these could be symptoms of advanced prostate cancer. [[prostate_diagram]] When to See a Doctor Consult with your doctor if you experience any of the symptoms discussed on this page particularly if they have been going on for a while. You will need a thorough work-up to determine the underlying cause, which may or may not be prostate cancer. It’s important to understand that other diseases or disorders can share these same symptoms. It’s important to keep track of your symptoms, determining what’s no...

Stage 4 prostate cancer is when cancer has spread from the prostate gland to distant parts of the body. Symptoms include urination problems and other issues, depending on the organs affected. Various treatment options are available. The prostate is located below the bladder. It surrounds a part of the urethra, which is the tube that drains urine from the bladder. While doctors can detect most forms of prostate cancer in their earliest stages, the condition can progress without symptoms. This can make it hard for a doctor to detect. The advanced stages of prostate cancer occur once it has spread to other parts of the body. Prostate cancer • Prostate cancer rarely reaches an advanced stage. • People with the condition normally have a very good outlook when they receive an early diagnosis and treatment. • Hormone therapy is a treatment option for advanced prostate cancer, as are • Prostate cancer can spread to the bones, brain, and lungs. Share on Pinterest Shannon Fagan/Getty Images Prostate cancer occurs when cells in the prostate gland mutate and start to develop abnormally, multiplying at an uncontrolled rate. In some instances, the cancerous cells After a doctor diagnoses prostate cancer, they will test to see if the The doctor will assign a stage of prostate cancer from 1 to 4. Stage 4 is the most advanced form. Stage 4 prostate cancer has spread to pelvic lymph nodes or is blocking the ureters. The ureters are the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder. Stage 4 ...

In addition to getting regular screenings, doctors recommend keeping an eye out for the following symptoms of prostate cancer and notifying your doctor immediately if you think there is something wrong. And to learn the symptoms of another type of cancer that sadly took the life of actor Chadwick Boseman, check out Bone pain iStock Having pain in your bones in any capacity should never go ignored, especially if it is severe or persistent. "In adults, the most common form of bone cancer is when cancer from another organ has traveled to the bone. It has metastasized to the bone. In men, it's commonly prostate cancer," Sudden or unexplained weight loss Shutterstock If you've cleaned up your diet and have been exercising regularly, it's very clear why you might be shedding a few pounds. But if you're suddenly losing weight out of nowhere without trying to, it could be a signal of a health problem—prostate cancer included. According to Frequent urination at night iStock "One of several possible causes of having to urinate more frequently at night could be prostate cancer and prostate health, especially if you're limiting liquid intake several hours before bedtime," Paulson says. And for more helpful information delivered straight to your inbox, Difficulty urinating Shutterstock In addition to having to urinate more frequently, prostate cancer can also cause you to have the opposite, but related, problem of having difficulty urinating, Paulson says. That may be due to the fact t...

Screening is testing to find cancer in people before they have symptoms. For some types of cancer, screening can help find cancers at an early stage, when they are likely to be easier to treat. Prostate cancer can often be found early by testing for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in a man’s blood. Another way to find prostate cancer is the digital rectal exam (DRE). For a DRE, the doctor puts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to feel the prostate gland. These tests and the actual process of screening are described in more detail in If the results of either of these tests is abnormal, further testing (such as a prostate biopsy) is often done to see if a man has cancer. Concerns about prostate cancer screening If prostate cancer is found as a result of screening, it will probably be at an earlier, more treatable stage than if no screening were done. While this might make it seem like prostate cancer screening would always be a good thing, there are still issues surrounding screening that make it unclear if the benefits outweigh the risks for most men. Possible inaccurate or unclear test results As an example, neither the PSA test nor the DRE is 100% accurate. These tests can sometimes have abnormal results even when a man does not have cancer (known as a false-positive result), or normal results even when a man does have cancer (known as a false-negative result). Unclear test results can cause confusion and anxiety. False-positive results can lead some men ...

Symptoms Signs and symptoms of stage 4 prostate cancer may include: • Painful urination • Decreased force in the stream of urine • Blood in the semen • Bone pain • Swelling in the legs • Fatigue When to see a doctor Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any persistent signs or symptoms that worry you. Causes Doctors aren't certain what causes stage 4 prostate cancer. Stage 4 prostate cancer occurs when prostate cancer cells break away from the prostate and spread to the lymph nodes or to other areas of the body. Prostate cancer cells that spread beyond the prostate most often travel to the: • Lymph nodes • Bones • Liver Risk factors Factors that may increase your risk of stage 4 prostate cancer include: • A family history of prostate cancer. Men with certain inherited gene mutations that increase the risk of prostate cancer have an increased risk of more-aggressive prostate cancers. • African-American race. Black men have an increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer. • Niederhuber JE, et al., eds. Prostate cancer. In: Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2014. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Jan. 7, 2019. • Prostate cancer. Plymouth Meeting, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/default.aspx. Accessed Jan. 7, 2019. • Wein AJ, et al., eds. Treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer. In: Campbell-Walsh Urology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsev...