Prostate problem signs
Prostate cancer often doesn’t show symptoms at an early stage, which is why having regular prostate checks is important for older men. Sometimes the first time it shows up is in the result of a blood test.
However, there are certain symptoms which may indicate prostate cancer. While all these symptoms can also be caused by relatively benign conditions such as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) or by an infection, the possibility of prostate cancer should be checked out. If cancer is detected, an early diagnosis can greatly improve the patient’s chances of survival.
One possible warning signal is an increase in the frequency of urination, particularly if accompanied by an urgent need to urinate. This can be a sign of prostate cancer; equally, it may be a sign of BPH, which can generally be corrected through drugs or surgery. In either case, early treatment will stop the condition getting worse. Needing to urinate in the middle of the night is a particularly strong indication that something is wrong – being woken more than once a night by the need to pee means a medical check is needed fast.
Another problem that can be a warning sign for prostate cancer is a weak stream of urine, slow urination, or dribbling. Some patients have reported the first sign they had was ‘the need to squeeze’; others report that after having finished, they still had a feeling that they needed to urinate, despite being unable to.
While some men seem to think that these difficulties are just a sign of them getting older, in fact they generally do indicate a medical condition that needs treatment, so they should be checked out.
Pain or burning sensations on urination are another possible warning signal of prostate cancer. Of course, they might also be caused by an infection of the urinary tract, or by a sexually transmitted disease. Fortunately most men, while they might overlook the previous couple of symptoms as just embarrassing signs of age, are unlikely to put up with actual pain and go straight to the doctor! Small amounts of blood found in the urine, equally, can be a warning sign of prostate cancer and of a number of other conditions.
Some of the warning signs of prostate cancer are connected with the prostate gland’s sexual function (it creates the white fluid emitted as part of ejaculate together with the sperm). If erection or ejaculation is painful, this can be a sign of prostate cancer. In some cases, blood is seen in the ejaculate, turning it slightly pinkish.
Difficulty in getting or keeping an erection can be a sign of prostate cancer, too. A prostate tumor can prevent the blood flow to the penis that is needed for an erection; it may also interfere with the nerves that control erectile function. Of course there is a large number of other conditions that might also be at fault – a trip to the doctor will assess what these might be.
There are a number of other symptoms which, while on their own they would not indicate prostate cancer, may be a cause for concern if they occur in combination with any of the already mentioned symptoms. For instance, pain in the pelvic region or lower back – particularly unexplained tenderness or soreness – can be an indication. Constipation may also be caused by a prostate problem if the tumor begins to press on the rectum.
These symptoms should certainly concern any man. But there’s more need for vigilance in the over-50s, as prostate cancer is more common among the older age groups (the average age of diagnosis is 72 in the US). Those with a history of prostate cancer in the family- or of breast cancer on the female side of the family – should also be particularly concerned.
Prostate cancer is a highly survivable cancer if it is caught early. Two quick and simple checks, the PSA blood test and a rectal exam, should tell whether there may be a problem – so if any of these symptoms are found, it is easy to get checked.
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