Symptoms of Prostate Cancer You Might Not Know About

Common symptoms of prostate cancer are associated with the urinary system, but other lesser-known symptoms may affect other areas of the body if the cancer cells begin to spread.

Prostate cancer may have no symptoms in the early stages, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Signs begin to take place as the cancer constricts the urethra, which takes urine from the bladder out of the body.

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Urinary symptoms might include a weak flow or inability to urinate, interruption in the urinary stream, frequent urination during the night, and pain or a burning sensation while urinating.

However, these symptoms don’t necessarily mean prostate cancer. An enlarged prostate, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH, has similar symptoms as the gland puts pressure on the urethra.

As prostate cancer spreads to tissues and bones, it may cause pain or numbness in the hips, legs or feet, reports the Cancer Treatment Centers of America. There may be swelling in the legs or pelvic area. Bone pain might not go away, leading to fractures.

Other symptoms include blood in the urine or semen, erectile dysfunction, and painful ejaculation.

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Because symptoms often don’t appear until the later stages of prostate cancer, men are advised to ask their doctor about prostate cancer screenings starting at age 50. African-American men and men with a family history of prostate cancer may consider screenings earlier because of their increased risk.

Cancer cells may start developing 10 to 30 years before the symptoms become apparent, the National Cancer Institute notes. Prostate cancer is often already advanced by the time a man notices the symptoms.

Although more than half of American men have some cancer cells in the prostate by age 80, most of these cases don’t pose problems or become health threats.

However, routine screenings, which include digital rectal exams and prostate specific androgen (PSA) tests, can rule out the possibility of prostate cancer when symptoms can be hard to detect.

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