Symptoms of prostate cancer can be difficult to detect when the disease is in its very early stages. Routine screenings should pick up the onset of prostate cancer, allowing for immediate and appropriate treatment. Once the cancer spreads beyond the prostate however, symptoms become more obvious and should be reported immediately to your health care provider.
Urinary Symptoms
A tumor in the prostate can press on the bladder or urethra as it enlarges, causing a sensation of pressure. The urethra is the tube that sends urine out of the bladder. Other symptoms include the need to urinate often, especially at night; difficulty in urinating; a weak or sporadic flow of urine; a painful and burning sensation while urinating; and/or blood in the urine.
Sexual Performance
Prostate cancer symptoms can also affect sexual performance by causing painful ejaculation or difficulty in obtaining an erection. Additionally there may be blood in the semen.
Skeletal Pain
Another symptom of prostate cancer is pain and stiffness in the skeleton. This can affect the lower back and hips as well as the pelvic area where the cancer can spread to the lymph nodes located nearby.
Other Symptoms
An enlarged prostate can indicate infection in the area, which leads to pain and overall discomfort. Prostate cancer often leads to weight loss as the body's immune system becomes compromised.
Advanced Symptoms
If prostate cancer spreads to the bones it can cause symptoms such as incessant pain in the joints and bony areas of the body, bone fractures and spinal compression.
