Prostate cancer symptoms and treatment

Prostate cancer may be symptom-free early; treatment is chosen after testing shows the cancer’s extent and your health needs. Urinary changes, blood in urine or semen, erectile difficulty, pelvic discomfort or persistent bone pain can occur, but these signs have other causes too. Assessment may lead to monitoring, surgery, radiotherapy, medicines or a combination, depending on the findings.

The prostate surrounds part of the urine passage, so enlargement or a tumour can alter flow. Localised disease may be managed with active surveillance, prostate removal surgery or radiotherapy. Brachytherapy places radioactive sources within or near the prostate in selected situations. More advanced disease may need medicines or targeted radioisotope therapy, and bone-strengthening therapy may support people whose cancer affects bones. Treatment decisions consider grade, spread, symptoms, other illnesses and personal preferences.

Book a clinical review for persistent urinary, sexual or pain changes. Bring your medication list and describe the onset, pattern and impact on daily life. Ask what tests are needed before deciding on treatment. If surgery is discussed, ask about open versus robotic approaches, catheter care and effects on bladder control and sexual function. Do not begin or stop cancer treatment without the treating team.

Seek urgent care for inability to pass urine, severe or rapidly worsening pain, fever with urinary symptoms, heavy bleeding, new leg weakness or numbness, or new loss of bladder or bowel control. During treatment, report fever, sudden breathlessness, chest pain or a catheter that stops draining immediately.

Ask what the tests show about location and spread, what each treatment aims to do, how side effects will be managed, and whether a second specialist opinion could help. Ask how symptoms should be monitored between visits.