Cancer and Healthy

Prostate cancer may not cause any signs or symptoms, especially in the early stages. It may be found when you've had a PSA test or digital rectal examination. Prostate cancer symptoms may appear if the tumor makes the prostate larger than normal and it starts to press on the urethra. This can make passing urine more difficult or painful or you may need to go more often.

As a man gets older, the prostate may become enlarged and block the urethra or bladder. This is a common condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is not cancer, but the symptoms of BPH are similar to the symptoms of prostate cancer. Testing is needed to confirm a diagnosis.

Common symptoms can include:

• need to urinate often, especially at night
• intense need to urinate (urgency)
• difficulty in starting or stopping the urine flow
• inability to urinate
• weak, decreased or interrupted urine stream
• a sense of incompletely emptying the bladder
• burning or pain during urination
• blood in the urine or semen
• painful ejaculation
• Feeling that your bladder is not emptying completely when you urinate.
• having to get up at night to urinate
• having a deep pain in your lower back, abdomen, hip, or pelvis

Late signs and symptoms occur as the cancer grows larger or spreads to other parts of the body, including other organs.

• bone pain (especially in the back, hips, thighs or neck)
• weight loss
• fatigue
• low red blood cell count (anemia)