Prostate Cancer Symptoms Guide

Prostate cancer is a very common type of cancer affecting a man's prostate gland. It is easily treatable, with an especially high survival rate when it is identified and treated in its early stages.

Unfortunately, there are very few symptoms of prostate cancer present in its early stages. Typically, it is only when the cancerous tumor grows large enough to cause pressure on other organs or the cancerous cells spread to the surrounding tissues and bones that symptoms become present.

This probably goes without saying, but if any of the below symptoms of prostate cancer are present in you, you should go see a doctor as soon as possible. The sooner you get screened, the sooner you can start treatment, the better your chances of recovery, and the sooner you can be cancer-free.

Prostate Cancer Symptom: Frequent Need to Urinate

Because of the close proximity of the prostate gland to the urinary tract, prostate issues can be linked with a frequent need to urinate, especially during the night hours. This symptom is especially noteworthy when it is otherwise uncommon for the man to be urinating that frequently and he has not made any other changes (such as increase in liquid or caffeine consumption) that can explain the difference.

Prostate Cancer Symptom: Difficulty Urinating

Similarly, due to the pressure the prostate cancer can put on the urethra, it can be difficult to start or stop the flow of urine, or it can be painful to urinate. Any of these problems, and a variety of other urination difficulties, can all be symptoms of prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer Symptom: Pain in Pelvic Area

If prostate cancer spreads beyond the prostate, it can sometimes migrate into bones, which will cause a variety of symptoms of their own. Most commonly, advanced prostate cancer will result in deep bone pain and stiffness in the surrounding area, specifically the back, pelvis, lower ribs, and upper thighs.

Prostate Cancer Symptom: Swelling and Discomfort in Pelvic Area

Another place that prostate cancer can spread is into the surrounding lymph nodes. If this occurs, some common symptoms of prostate cancer are swelling and discomfort in the upper thighs and pelvic area.

Prostate Cancer Symptom: Weight Loss and Fatigue

Advanced prostate cancer can also result in loss of body strength, typically in the form of rapid and unexplained weight loss, and extreme fatigue. Of course, there are many other explanations for these symptoms, but they can be paired with the above symptoms as warning signs of the chance of being diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Sources:
www.prostatecancerfoundation.org
www.webmd.com