Five Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

A concern of many men as they grow older are prostate problems. Specifically, prostate cancer comes to mind. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to distinguish the symptoms of prostate cancer from prostate enlargement. If you have any or all of the following symptoms, seek medical attention in order to determine if these symptoms are the signs of simple prostate enlargement or more worrisome prostate cancer. Early prostate cancer is rather difficult to detect, which is why you should have a digital-rectal examination and PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test as part of your annual checkup. Here are some symptoms of more advanced prostate cancer, those that appear after a tumor causes the prostate to swell in size or after the cancer spreads beyond the prostate.

Prostate Cancer Symptom #1 - A Frequent Need to Urinate
One of the more common and noticeable symptoms of prostate cancer is a frequent need to urinate. This is not a symptom of cancer, but rather a symptom that the prostate has swollen in size. It is common for this problem to become more pronounced at night.

Prostate Cancer Symptom #2 - Difficulty Urinating
A swollen prostate can make it difficult to start or stop a urine stream, and the stream of urine may be weak or interrupted. This is due to the size of the prostate compressing the urethra.

Prostate Cancer Symptom #3 - Pain or Blood While Urinating
Feeling pain while urinating or blood being present in urine are probably some of the more noticeable symptoms of prostate cancer. However, these symptoms could also indicate problems with the kidneys. If you have these symptoms or any of the above symptoms, go to the doctor as soon as possible to rule out prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer Symptom #4 - Pain and Stiffness in the Pelvis
Advanced prostate cancer can cause pain and stiffness in the pelvis, lower back, ribs, and upper thighs. This is due to the compression of nerves by the tumor, or may also be due to the spread of tumors. Arthritic pain may also be present in the bones of the pelvis, and may signify metastases.

Prostate Cancer Symptom #5 - Loss of Weight and Appetite
A loss of weight and appetite is a common sign of almost any type of cancer. If you inexplicably lose weight and your appetite, go to the doctor. If you do not have prostate cancer, you could have a different type of cancer. Other digestive symptoms of prostate cancer or other types of cancer are fatigue, nausea, and vomiting.

The information contained in this article is informational, and is not medical advice. You cannot know whether or not you have prostate cancer by reading an article. If you have any of these symptoms, seek medical attention. If you do not have prostate cancer, you can have peace of mind. If you do have prostate cancer, you can begin to address the problem. If you know of any other symptoms of prostate cancer, or have any firsthand experience with the disease, feel free to share your knowledge in the form of a comment. Thank you for reading!

In writing this article, WebMD was used as a reference and source of information. Their site can be reached at www.webmd.com.