4 prostate cancer symptoms every man needs to know

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men and can be one of the most problematic to diagnose and treat. Part of the problem is that there are often few obvious symptoms in the early stages, and it might not be clear there’s a problem until the cancer has advanced. Below are the most important prostate cancer symptoms for men to be aware of.

1. Pain when urinating or ejaculating

One of the symptoms that men are less likely to miss is a painful burning sensation when they urinate or ejaculate.

2. Needing to urinate during the night

Waking up in the night to urinate is common, especially among older men. However, it can also be a sign of prostate cancer, especially in younger men who have never experienced problems before.

3. Difficulty urinating

Prostate cancer causes the prostate to become enlarged, which makes it more difficult to pass urine. Some men experience a weaker flow and struggle to empty their bladder completely.

4. Blood in urine or semen

While most of the symptoms of prostate cancer are shared with numerous other common conditions, the presence of blood in urine or semen is obviously a cause for concern and should be addressed by a doctor as soon as possible.

What else can cause these symptoms?

The symptoms of prostate cancer are far from unique to this disease. As men age, their prostates enlarge, even in the absence of cancer. This means that most men will experience some of the symptoms of prostate cancer even though they don’t have the disease. If you notice any blood in your urine or semen, you should call your doctor immediately to identify the cause. Other symptoms should be reported to your doctor, especially in younger men. If multiple symptoms suddenly emerge simultaneously, that is more likely to indicate a problem than symptoms developing slowly over time, as would be expected with normal ageing.

With prostate cancer, prevention is the best cure. This is why all men are offered a free screening test in the UK. If you’re concerned about any symptoms, I offer a prostate-specific antigen, or PSA test, which is non-invasive. Depending on the results of that test and other consultations, I can offer several treatments.