Most of the time, prostate cancer indications are not very clear in the early phases of the disease. The signs and symptoms of prostate cancer will be different for every man. Many of these symptoms may be an indication of another medical condition. Case in point, difficulty urinating is significantly more regularly brought on by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) rather than cancer. Subsequently, routine screenings such as a digital rectal exam (DRE) or prostate specific androgen (PSA) tests are essential for early detection of the disease. A patient in the early stages of prostate cancer will experience symptoms, which include:
- A frequent need to urinate (more common at night)
- Erectile dysfunction (difficulty having an erection)
- Blood present in the urine or the semen
- Pain associated with urination or ejaculation
- Weak or interrupted urine flow
- Difficulty or pain while sitting due to an enlarged prostate
It’s important to note that oftentimes men who have prostate cancer will not exhibit any of the early indicators. Urinary symptoms such as these can be caused by an infection of the prostate gland or urinary system. When the prostate cancer in the patient has become more advanced, the disease will spread into other areas of the body. This is called Metastatic prostate cancer. Cells will break away from the tumor in the prostate and travel throughout the body through either the Lymphatic system or blood stream. Cancer that has spread beyond the prostate gland will cause symptoms such as:
- Pain in the bones: Back, hips, thighs, shoulders etc.
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue
If you are currently experiencing any one or more of the symptoms that have been listed, it is imperative to speak with your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor will ask to what extent and how regularly you have been encountering these symptoms, notwithstanding different inquiries on the matter. This is to figure out the reason for the issue, which is called a diagnosis. Diagnosing cancer in the early stages will help your doctor to determine the course of treatment required to eliminate the cancer.
