What are the first signs of prostate cancer?

When symptoms occur, prostate cancer may affect the flow of urine or nearby tissues. Changes can include a weak stream, difficulty starting, stopping and starting, needing to urinate often, or waking at night to urinate. Blood in urine or semen, erectile changes, or pain in the lower back, hips, or pelvis may have many possible causes. Benign prostate enlargement, infection, stones, and medicines can produce similar urinary symptoms, so a symptom alone cannot identify cancer.

Make an appointment if urinary symptoms persist, worsen, or interfere with sleep or daily activities. A clinician may ask about medicines and family history, examine the prostate, and discuss a prostate-specific antigen blood test. Further tests are considered alongside examination and results rather than from one finding alone. If cancer is diagnosed, options can include monitoring, surgery, radiotherapy, brachytherapy, or other treatments according to the individual situation.

Seek urgent care if you cannot pass urine, have heavy blood in the urine, severe pelvic or back pain, fever with painful urination, or new leg weakness or numbness. These signs may indicate blockage, infection, bleeding, or pressure on nerves and need prompt evaluation.

Ask what may be causing the urinary change, whether testing is appropriate, and how to interpret the result in context. If cancer is suspected, ask whether imaging or a biopsy is needed and how each treatment option could affect urinary, bowel, and sexual function.