The Signs Of Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer can be silent. It usually is, at least while it is small. It doesnt cause any symptoms at that moment.
Thats because it usually grows in the periphery of the prostate, far from the urethra.
After it grows a little, you can start to get some symptoms. These are the most common:
As you can see, all these signs and symptoms are related to urination and .
For example, as the prostate surrounds the urethra, prostate cancer may make it harder to pee.
The tumor will narrow the duct and the urine flow will diminish. Thats when we find it difficult to urinate. Either through trouble starting or being unable to stop.
Also, the effort of the bladder against the obstacle can cause a burning sensation or pain
And so on many of these signs are due to this obstacle mechanism.
Prostate Cancer: Dr Hilary Outlines Signs And Symptoms
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Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer among men in the UK and accounts for more than 52,000 diagnoses each year. The prostate is part of the male reproductive system located in the pelvis. It can go undetected for a while as it often does not display symptoms in the early stages.
A Note About Sex And Gender
Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms male, female, or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. .
American Cancer Society , early prostate cancer does not cause symptoms.
As the tumor develops and grows, it presses against nearby structures, such as the spine or urethra, which can cause symptoms. At this point, the cancer is more advanced.
This means that screening is important to detect cancer early. The ACS recommends that males aged 50 and over should receive regular screening.
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Screening May Not Help You Live Longer
Quite often, prostate cancer moves so slowly it will never cause symptoms or threaten your life. Finding and treating such cancers may do more harm than good. The flipside, of course, is that screening can catch a less-common but aggressive, potentially deadly cancerand a missed opportunity to diagnose it could have grim consequences.
Heres what your PSA results tells your doctor:
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Under 4 nanograms per milliliter usually means theres no cancer however, about one in six men with a PSA at this level will be diagnosed with prostate cancer once they undergo further testing.
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Between 4 and 10 ng/mL indicates a 25% risk of prostate cancer.
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Above 10 ng/mL boosts the risk to above 50%.
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What Should You Do If You Have The Symptoms Of Prostate Cancer
If you are presenting one or more of the warning signs of prostate cancer, then it would be wise to promptly consult with a qualified physician. Your symptoms may indicate another, less serious condition and even if you do receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer, it is much easier to treat this disease when detected early on.
To learn more, contact our team of medical professionals at Care New England today.
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Are There Yearly Recommended Screenings For Prostate Cancer
There are various schools of thought on when to begin prostate cancer screening and how often it should be done. The consensus is that all men should first have a conversation with a doctor about the risks and benefits of screening.
The American Cancer Society recommends that the discussion about screening should take place at:
- age 50 for men who are at average risk of prostate cancer
- age 45 for men at high risk of developing prostate cancer
- age 40 for men with more than one first degree relative diagnosed with prostate cancer before the age of 65
The Top 7 Signs Of Advanced Prostate Cancer
- Advanced prostate cancer means your cancer has spread to areas outside of the prostate gland.
- Some signs of spread may include changes in urinary or bowel habits, sore lymph nodes in the groin, unexplained weight loss, and pain in the hip or back.
- Tumors may grow in other areas of the body, such as the bladder, bones, legs, or lungs.
In the early stages, you may not notice any symptoms related to prostate cancer. This is why screenings are important. Symptoms can sometimes be noticed for the first time when the cancer advances.
Advanced prostate cancer, also called metastatic cancer, means the cancer has spread to other areas of your body beyond your prostate gland. The most common areas for prostate cancer to spread are your bladder, rectum, and bones. It can also spread to your lymph nodes, liver, lungs, and other body tissues.
Whether youve just been diagnosed or youre in treatment, its also important to know the signs of advanced cancer. Cancer can behave differently depending on your genetics, so not every person will experience the same symptoms in the same way.
Read on to learn more about the seven top symptoms of advanced prostate cancer and how to spot them.
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Treatment For Prostate Cancer
How prostate cancer is treated? In cancer care different types of treatment options are available. Urologists, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists often work together to develop overall treatment plans that may combine different types of treatments.
Treatment options and recommendations depend on several factors, including the type of cancer, stage of cancer, possible side effects, and the patients overall health.
Active surveillance is always preferred for those with a very low risk of prostate cancer that can be treated with surgery or radiation therapy. The following testing should be done for active surveillance:
A PSA test every three to six months A DRE at least once a year and a prostate biopsy within 6 to 12 months.
Surgeries involve the removal of the prostate and some surrounding tissues and lymph nodes during the operation. The type of surgery depends on the stage of cancer and the patients overall health condition.
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Managing Other Prostate Cancer Symptoms
Other prostate cancer symptoms can include:
Loss of libido . Side effects of drug treatments for prostate cancer can cause a loss of interest in sex and erection problems. A common treatment for prostate cancer is hormone therapy, which is used to slow your body down from making testosterone, the male hormone. Your doctor may recommend you do hormone therapy off and on to lessen the side effects of these medications.
To manage a loss of libido with prostate cancer, you can:
- Ask your doctor about breaks with your hormone therapy treatment, or only restart treatment when your prostate-specific antigen levels begin to rise
- Talk to your doctor about drug treatment for erection problems
- Seek advice from a sex counselor or therapist
- Talk with your partner about loss of libido
- Keep a healthy diet and stay active
Depression. News of cancer can be understandably difficult for you and your loved ones. Following a prostate cancer diagnosis, it isnât unusual for you to experience depression and other emotional side effects. Because stress is often another side effect of depression, depression in cancer patients has been linked to shorter survival times.
To manage the effects of depression, it can be helpful to:
- Join a support group for those with prostate cancer or in recovery
- Talk to your doctor about changes in your mood and feelings
- Talk to loved ones about what you are experiencing
- Try to remain active
To manage your thinking and memory, you can try to:
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Discomfort In The Groin Or Pelvic Area
An enlarged prostate is common in men with prostate cancer. The organ is in the lower pelvic area, just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. Due to its location, an enlarged prostate can lead to discomfort, especially when sitting. The groin also has several lymph nodes close to the prostate that help the body fight off infections. Cancer cells often spread to these lymph nodes first, preventing them from functioning properly and causing swelling, which leads to soreness or discomfort.
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Are There Prostate Cancer Risk Factors To Consider
Cancer researchers have identified several factors that could increase a mans risk of developing prostate cancer. In considering whether any of these risk factors apply to you, remember that having one or more of them does not mean you will get the disease. However, you should be sure to get all the prostate cancer screenings your physician recommends. It is also important to know that men without these risk factors may also have prostate cancer.
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Early Signs Of Prostate Cancer
There are no warning signs of early prostate cancer. You canât feel the growing tumor pushing against anything else, so thereâs no pain. You can have the disease for years and not know it. Thatâs why regular prostate cancer screenings are so important.
If youâre a Black man, early screening for prostate cancer is particularly important as youâre 2.5 times more likely to die from prostate cancer than your non-Hispanic white peers. In a large study by JAMA Oncology, results pointed to factors such as access to quality health care as to why this may be the case.
If youâre nonbinary or gender expansive, you should still be aware of potential risks of prostate cancer, particularly for transgender women. Significant studies are lacking, but it is still possible to be diagnosed with prostate cancer. So screening, especially if you have symptoms or a family history of cancer, could be a helpful decision.
Signs And Symptoms Of Prostate Cancer
Most prostate cancers are found early, through screening. Early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms. More advanced prostate cancers can sometimes cause symptoms, such as:
- Problems urinating, including a slow or weak urinary stream or the need to urinate more often, especially at night
- Trouble getting an erection
- Pain in the hips, back , chest , or other areas from cancer that has spread to bones
- Weakness or numbness in the legs or feet, or even loss of bladder or bowel control from cancer pressing on the spinal cord
Most of these problems are more likely to be caused by something other than prostate cancer. For example, trouble urinating is much more often caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia , a non-cancerous growth of the prostate. Still, its important to tell your health care provider if you have any of these symptoms so that the cause can be found and treated, if needed. Some men might need more tests to check for prostate cancer.
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Is There A Difference Between A Sign And A Symptom
While both signs and symptoms of prostate cancer provide your doctor with clues that can help reveal your health status, they are not quite the same.
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Signs are things that can be measured or otherwise witnessed by your doctor. A good example is a blood test , which well discuss below.
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Symptoms are a bit more personal. Theyre what you experience but they cant be objectively measured. You may feel fatigue, for example, but that wont show up in an exam. You have to tell your doctor about it.
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/6what Is Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is cancer that grows in the prostate gland, which is a small walnut-shaped gland in males that produces the seminal fluid, explains the Mayo Clinic.
It is important to note that not all cancers show symptoms. Cancers take their time to develop and spread, which is why it tends to grow slowly and gradually over many years. Most men with early prostate cancer do not experience any noticeable signs. Only when the tumour grows, signs of prostate cancer begin to appear.
However, if you’re vigilant, you may catch hold of the symptoms early in the stage.
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Changes You Shouldnt Ignore
Early-stage prostate cancer rarely causes symptoms but as the disease progresses, you may experience certain warning signs. Knowing the signs of prostate cancer will help you keep an eye out for any concerning changes to your health.
Keep in mind, though, these symptoms dont indicate trouble with your prostate, Dr. Weight says. In fact, almost all of them come standard with aging. But if you experience several symptoms or have other concerns, it may be a good idea to visit a urologist.
Soreness In The Groin
When prostate cancer spreads, its common for cancer cells to go to your lymph nodes and then move to more areas of your body. The lymph nodes are a network of glands that help your body filter fluids and fight infections.
There are several lymph nodes in your groin. These are the ones closest to your prostate, so its common for the cancer to spread to them first. Cancer cells prevent your lymph nodes from draining fluid and working properly. When this happens, your lymph nodes swell. As a result, you might experience pain or soreness in the area.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Prostate Cancer
If you have any symptoms that worry you, be sure to see your doctor right away. They may be caused by conditions other than prostate cancer.
Different people have different symptoms for prostate cancer. Some men do not have symptoms at all.
If you have any of the following symptoms, be sure to see your doctor right away
- Difficulty starting urination.
- Weak or interrupted flow of urine.
- Urinating often, especially at night.
- Trouble emptying the bladder completely.
- Pain or burning during urination.
- Pain in the back, hips, or pelvis that doesnt go away.
Keep in mind that these symptoms may be caused by conditions other than prostate cancer.
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So Why Would You Go See The Doctor
An important clinical goal for you and your doctor should be to detect risk for prostate cancer long before it can cause symptoms.
Thus, any initial detection of signs that you may have prostate cancer is now most commonly the result of a regular check-up carried out by your primary care physician, which may include a digital rectal examination or a prostate specific antigen test.
The most common symptom which may make a man go to either his primary care physician or a urologist, and which might subsequently lead to a diagnosis of prostate cancer, is some form of problem with normal urination.
Since all the symptoms listed above may be caused by prostate cancer and/or by a number of other disorders , it would be wise to talk to your family doctor if you or someone else in your family is having one or more of these problems on a regular basis.
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Bladder And Urinary Troubles
A prostate tumor that has grown significantly in size may start to press on your bladder and urethra. The urethra is the passage the carries urine from your bladder out of your body. If the tumor is pressing on your urethra, you might have trouble passing urine.
One of the common areas for prostate cancer to spread to is the bladder, because the two organs are close. This can cause additional problems with urination and bladder function.
Some symptoms your bladder and urethra are being affected by cancer include:
- urinating more frequently
- getting up in the middle of the night to pee
- feeling like you have to urinate often and not actually passing anything
If My Father Had Prostate Cancer Am I Likely To Get It
Having a sibling or parent with prostate cancer more than doubles your risk of developing it too. Having a brother affected increases your risk more than having a father affected. Your risk is much higher if youve had several relatives with prostate cancer, especially if they were young when they were diagnosed.
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Symptoms Of Recurrent Prostate Cancer
Recurrent prostate cancer is the state where cancer returns after its treatment. It may occur around the prostate and refer to local recurrence. In case it is found in the other part of the body, it is also referred to as metastatic. Certain symptoms will let you get an idea about it. These are as follows:-
- There is blood in the urine
- Difficulty in urination
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