What should you know about first signs of prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer can present with difficulty starting urine, a weak or interrupted stream, passing urine more often, or needing to urinate at night. Blood in urine or semen, erectile changes, or discomfort may also occur. These symptoms can have non-cancer causes, including benign prostate enlargement or infection, so a symptom cannot identify the cause on its own.

Some people have no symptoms, particularly when disease is found through a health assessment. Persistent back, hip or pelvic bone pain, unexplained weight loss or marked tiredness may indicate more advanced illness and should not be ignored.

Book a medical appointment if urinary changes persist, worsen, or interfere with sleep or daily activities. The clinician may discuss your history, examine the prostate, and offer blood or urine tests. Further assessment may include imaging or a biopsy, depending on the findings and your preferences.

Tell the clinician about medicines, previous urinary problems, family history and any blood you have noticed. Do not delay assessment because symptoms are mild, and do not start treatment intended for prostate cancer before a diagnosis and treatment discussion.

Seek urgent care if you cannot pass urine, have severe lower abdominal pain, heavy blood in the urine, fever with urinary symptoms, new leg weakness, or loss of bladder or bowel control. New severe bone pain also warrants prompt review, especially with a known cancer diagnosis.

What could be causing my symptoms? Do I need a prostate-specific antigen test or examination? Which results would lead to imaging or biopsy? If cancer is found, how would options such as surgery or radiotherapy fit my situation?