Prostate Cancer: Symptoms

Prostate Cancer is a serious condition affecting 1 in 6 men here in America. If caught early, prostate cancer doesn't always have symptoms, but if you have these symptoms, please check with your doctor for a thorough evaluation.

The prostate is a small gland that sits under the bladder and in front of the rectum. The male urethra passes through the prostate, and when the prostate gland starts to enlarge, it can cause issues with urination, ejaculation, or your ability to get an erection.

It is important to have regular PSA (prostate-specific antigen) tests to catch prostate cancer early. Even with testing, symptoms can crop up, and you should bring them up with your doctor. Common symptoms of prostate cancer are listed below.

Frequent urination, especially at night - the prostate gland's position under the bladder can cause you to feel like your bladder is full.

Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine - the prostate gland's position surrounding your urethra, as well as the position of nerves around it, can interfere with your body's ability to properly control the flow of urine.

Weak or interrupted urine flow - a swelling prostate gland can interfere with your body's ability to urinate.

Painful or burning urination - compression and damage to the urethra and surrounding tissues can cause pain or a burning sensation when you urinate.

Difficulty getting an erection - the prostate gland sits amongst bundles of nerves that control a man's ability to get and maintain an erection.

Painful ejaculation - the prostate gland is just below the seminal vesicles, which produce some components of semen. These then travel through the urethra, which sits within the prostate gland. If the urethra is compressed or has been damaged, this can cause pain.

Blood in urine or semen - tissue damage can cause bleeding, which can show up in urine or semen as it passes through the urethra.

Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs - because the prostate gland is centered in the pelvis, as it starts to grow it can cause pain in the hips as well as surrounding areas.

Please remember that these symptoms don't always point to prostate cancer. There are other conditions that can cause these symptoms, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostatitis. It's important to get regular prostate exams and follow up with your doctor if you experience any of the above symptoms.

Sources:

medicinenet.com

prostatecancerfoundation.org