Prostate cancer in Australia

The prostate is a gland below the bladder that surrounds part of the urine channel. Prostate cancer may cause no symptoms early on. When symptoms occur, they can include a weak stream, difficulty passing urine, frequent or urgent urination, blood in urine or semen, or pelvic and back discomfort. These symptoms also occur with non-cancerous prostate conditions, so they cannot diagnose cancer on their own. A clinician considers personal history, examination, prostate-specific testing, scans, and sometimes tissue sampling.

Make an appointment with a general practitioner or urology service if urinary or pelvic symptoms persist, recur, or concern you. Take a list of medicines, previous test results, family history, and questions about testing. If cancer is diagnosed, the team may discuss monitoring, surgery, radiotherapy, brachytherapy, hormone-based treatment, targeted radioisotope therapy, or supportive care according to the cancer's features and your preferences. Prostate Cancer and Prostate Removal Surgery are useful starting points for further reading.

Seek urgent medical help if you cannot pass urine, have heavy blood in the urine, develop severe pain, or feel faint or very unwell. New leg weakness, numbness, difficulty walking, or loss of bladder or bowel control needs emergency assessment because it may indicate pressure on nerves in the spine. Do not delay care while trying to decide whether a symptom is cancer-related.

Ask what may be causing your symptoms, which tests are appropriate, and what each result can and cannot show. If cancer is found, ask about grade, stage, treatment aims, side effects affecting urination or sexual function, and whether a second opinion would help you decide.