Prostate cancer often develops slowly and usually doesn’t cause noticeable symptoms in its early stages. Many men only discover changes once the condition becomes more advanced or affects nearby tissues. Even then, the signs can be subtle or easily mistaken for other prostate or urinary problems.
As the disease progresses, symptoms may include changes in urination, pain, or the presence of blood in urine or semen. While these symptoms aren’t always related to cancer, they should prompt a medical evaluation, especially in people with risk factors.
Because prostate cancer becomes more common with age, urologists recommend regular checkups starting at age 50, or age 45 for those with a family history. These visits help monitor prostate health and allow early detection through exams such as PSA testing and a digital rectal exam.
Common symptoms
Most people with prostate cancer do not experience symptoms, even in more advanced cases.
When symptoms do appear, they may include:
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Frequent urges to urinate
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Difficulty starting urination
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Very weak urine stream
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Waking up several times at night to urinate
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Pain when urinating and/or painful ejaculation
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Blood in the urine
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Difficulty maintaining an erection
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Blood in the semen
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Pain in the testicular area
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Urgency to urinate
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Sensation of incomplete bladder emptying, even after urinating
Prostate cancer symptoms can be nonspecific and may not always occur. Regular appointments with a urologist are essential starting at age 50, or at age 45 with a family history of prostate cancer, so screening tests such as PSA and a digital rectal exam can be performed.
If the cancer spreads to other areas of the body, other nonspecific symptoms may appear, including excessive fatigue, unexplained weight loss, back or bone pain, leg weakness, cough, or swollen lymph nodes near the prostate.
Online symptom test
To determine whether there may be a risk of prostate problems, it is important to pay attention to signs such as:
The symptom test is meant only as a general guide and does not provide a diagnosis or replace an evaluation by a urologist.
Confirming a diagnosis
A urologist can diagnose prostate cancer by reviewing symptoms, personal health history, and family history, along with a digital rectal exam and a PSA blood test.
Also recommended: Enlarged Prostate: Symptoms (with Online Checker) & Treatment tuasaude.com/en/enlarged-prostateIf the digital rectal exam detects a hard nodule, or if the PSA test is significantly elevated, a prostate biopsy may be recommended. This test helps determine whether the change is benign or malignant and guides the most appropriate treatment plan if needed.
If prostate cancer is confirmed, the urologist, oncologist, and radiation oncologist work together to determine the best treatment approach.
Stages of prostate cancer
Identifying the stage of prostate cancer helps doctors determine the most effective treatment. Staging is based on imaging tests as well as PSA and biopsy results.
Prostate cancer staging table
Treatment options
Prostate cancer treatment is managed by a urologist and varies depending on the stage of the tumor.
Treatment options may include surgery to remove the prostate (prostatectomy), chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, or ablative therapy.