Prostate Cancer Symptoms

The prostate cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in the prostate gland which is the part of male reproductive system. They symptoms might or might not manifest in a man suffering from this condition. Being a slow developing type of cancer, some men who have the disease might not even know that they have it.

Prostate cancer symptoms are not evident in its early stage. Screening for cancer is relatively simple to do, with an annual prostate examination and PSA test. Most patients with this type of cancer will be identified and with a relatively high chance of cure. Screening for diseases is a fact of modern medicine. For this type of cancer, the issue is complex, as the overall benefit to patients is far from clear.

Screening means testing for cancer before you have any symptoms. A screening test can often help find cancer at an early stage. Prostate cancer symptoms are the key to determining if one has a possibility of developing prostate cancer. With early self-diagnosis, one can make a detour away from the deadly route of cancer. Urinary difficulties and incontinence are characteristic of early stage cancer symptoms. Men often experience frequent urination, although the amount of urine passed may be quite small. Urinary incontinence often follows childbirth or menopause. Urine or prostatic fluid cytology may reveal unusual looking cells. Also keep in mind that experts report that PSA tests are not reliable and they are looking for better ways to diagnose prostate cancer. Urine or prostatic fluid cytology may reveal unusual cells.

Another test usually used when the symptoms are present is a digital rectal exam (DRE) performed by the doctor, proctologist or oncologist. Blood in the urine is normally a symptom of something other than prostate cancer.

However, in people who do have this type of cancer the presence of blood in the urine may be an indicator that the condition is advanced and has spread from the prostate and into the bladder or urethra. Blood tests will usually confirm diagnosis. If left untreated the disease can get serious and lead to kidney, liver, eye, and brain damage. Pain in the bladder or frequent urge for urinating are other symptoms which might indicate bladder cancer. However, none of these symptoms can be conclusively related to bladder cancer. Pain and stiffness in the lower back, hips, upper thighs and the pelvic area can be symptoms of this cancer that has already spread. If these symptoms appear, a visit to the doctor is most imperative.

Scientists are just beginning to study how diet and other environmental factors may or may not affect prostate cancer risk. Scientists still do not know the exact cause behind prostate cancer. No one knows why some people suffer with prostate cancer while others do not.

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