More than 200,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2010, according to estimates provided by the National Cancer Institute. This form of cancer affects the prostate, a small gland that is a part of the male reproductive system. Identification of the early warning signs of prostate cancer can help affected men receive prompt treatment for this disease.
Difficulty Urinating
The prostate gland wraps around the urethra, a narrow tube that carries urine from a man's bladder out of his body. Cancer cell growth within the prostate gland can cause inflammation. An inflamed prostate can depress or narrow the urethra. When this occurs, a man can find it difficult to begin urinating despite experiencing an urge to urinate. Alternatively, certain men can experience difficulty voluntarily controlling their flow of urine as an early warning sign of prostate cancer, warn medical experts with the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Men with this form of cancer typically experience frequent nighttime urination due to prostate inflammation that extends into the bladder. Difficulty urinating can be accompanied by a weak or dribbling urine flow while a man urinates. A urinary tract infection can also cause difficulty urinating and affected men should consult a physician to ensure appropriate treatment.
Painful Urination or Ejaculation
Men with prostate cancer can develop sensations of pain while urinating or upon ejaculation as early warning signs of this disease, explains Dr. William Dean, a urologist with RoboticAdvantage.com. Urination pain can feel like a burning or stinging sensation, which may be accompanied by an increased urge to urinate. Ejaculation pain can be uncomfortable and can make it difficult for a man to become aroused during sexual stimulation. Development of these early warning signs of prostate cancer is not normal and should be immediately discussed with a medical provider.
Blood in the Urine or Semen
Prostate inflammation due to cancer cell growth can cause blood to appear within a man's urine or semen, reports the NCI. Urine that contains blood can appear unusually dark, reddish or cloudy. These early warning signs of prostate cancer can also be a sign of a kidney infection and should be reported to a physician as soon as possible.
Groin or Lower Back Pain
Frequent groin or lower back pain can emerge as early warning signs of prostate cancer, report Prostate Cancer Foundation health professionals. Affected men can experience mild to severe pain near the base of the penis that extends into the hips, upper thighs or lower back. Depending upon the severity of groin or lower back pain, certain men with prostate cancer can have difficulty moving about normally.
