Prostate Cancer

Symptoms

As men age, their prostate gland usually enlarges. This is much more commonly due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) than prostate cancer. Often there are no associated symptoms but if they do occur, those for both BPH and prostate cancer may be very similar.

Symptoms may be local (i.e. close proximity to the prostate gland) or distant.

Local symptoms: Any of the following are possible symptoms of the effects of enlargement in the local area around the prostate which cause an obstruction to the flow of urine: -

Difficulty in urinating with slowing of the urinary stream or a poor flow of urine
Hesitation at the start – a delay in starting the urinary stream
Dribbling at the end of urination
Urinating more frequently, day and night

Distant symptoms: Pain and stiffness in the lower back and/or hips or elsewhere in the body may occur with more advanced prostate cancer that has spread to bones. Although common anyway with advancing age and usually not associated with anything sinister, persistent pain, or pain that gets worse, should be reported to the doctor.