Symptoms
of Prostate Cancer
Unfortunately symptoms in the early stages as with so many cancers are few, there will
be some swelling of the prostate but because of its location this is not visible. It
is likely that there will be some problem with passing water, this is most likely to
mean frequent visits to the toilet, getting up in the middle of the night, thinking
one needs to go to the toilet only to find out there is little water to pass.
However these are all the same symptoms one has with non cancerous prostate problems
which are more common.
Because there are no positive symptoms most cancer patients particularly in younger
men are not diagnosed until the problem is advanced. However treatment to slow down
the cancer growth is still possible even in quite advanced cases
Prostate Cancer Symptoms
Most men with prostate cancer have no symptoms. This is particularly true of early prostate cancer.
- Most prostate cancers are discovered incidentally when
a digital rectal exam is performed.
- A digital rectal exam is part of a thorough regular
health examination. Digital refers to finger.
- During
the digital rectal exam, the examiner inserts a gloved and lubricated
finger in the rectum to feel the prostate for abnormalities.
Symptoms usually appear when the tumor causes some degree of urinary blockage at the bladder neck or the urethra.
- The usual symptoms include difficulty in starting and
stopping the urinary stream, increase in frequency of urination, and pain
while urinating.
- The urinary stream may be diminished (urinary retention), or it may simply
dribble out.
- Even after urination, there is a sense of bladder fullness because the bladder has not been fully emptied.
Less common symptoms are blood in the urine (hematuria), painful ejaculation, or impotence (inability to have an erection).
- These 3 symptoms are uncommon in early stages of the
disease. They usually occur when the cancer is advanced.
- As the cancer advances to cause a greater blockage,
bladder function may deteriorate further.
- Men with such advanced cancers sometimes experience recurring urinary tract infections.
Despite
these symptoms, many men do not seek medical care until the cancer has
spread. Symptoms of metastatic disease include fatigue, malaise, and weight loss. Spread to
the bones causes deep bone pain, especially in the hips and back, and bone
fractures from weakening of the bone.
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