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Symptoms that may indicate prostate cancer: |
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Rising PSA level
Bone pain or back pain
Difficulty urinating
Weakness or numbness in the legs
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Symptoms
Prostate cancer is often diagnosed before symptoms appear. During the early stages of prostate cancer, most men don't notice any symptoms. If symptoms appear, they'll vary depending on the tumor's size, location and how far it has advanced. The following symptoms are caused by the growth and are similar to BPH a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate:
- Difficulty starting or stopping urine flow
- More frequent urination with increased urination at night
- Urgent need to urinate
- Decreased force or interrupted flow of the urinary stream
- Inability to urinate
- Pain or burning during urination
More commonly symptoms will start when the cancer has spread. The following are some examples:
- Painful ejaculation
- Impotence (erectile dysfunction - difficulty having or sustaining an erection)
- Blood in the urine or semen
- Pain in the lower back, pelvis or upper thighs
- Swelling in the lower legs
Call your doctor immediately if you have any of these symptoms.
More on Prostate Cancer Screening and Diagnosing of Prostate Cancer
In the Encyclopedia: Prostate-specific antigen test
Prostate ultrasound
Prostatectomy
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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