Prostate cancer is ranked among the most common types of cancers detected in men. It results from the out-of-control multiplication of cells in the prostate from cells. This small gland rests below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It makes one of the most critical aspects of the male reproductive system due to its contribution toward forming one critical component of semen.
It is very important to detect its cancerous stage for
successful treatment, but the early symptoms are not easily identified. We,
through this blog, are about to focus on some of the early symptoms of prostate
cancer, factors that attribute to symptom manifestation, and the need to screen
the prostate at regular intervals.
Early Symptoms of Prostate Cancer
Urinary
The most common early symptom of prostate cancer is the need
to urinate more often than before, especially at night. In general, this
results from the pressure the tumor puts on the urethra or the bladder. In most
cases, the route of exit for the urine is reduced, causing the enlargement of
the prostate, hence frequent urination. Other diseases found on the prostate,
like benign prostatic hyperplasia, and even infections of the urinary tract are
other causes of such symptoms. Hence, urinary habit changes also need to be
noted with the aid of a professional towards the diagnosis.
Urinary Habits
An initial difficulty in the start or stoppage of the
urinary stream is one of the major complaints of men with early prostatic cancer.
Cancer cells that would develop in the prostate would irritate the gland and
tend to affect urinary functions, thus causing a weak or interrupted urine
stream as a result. This might also be associated with painful urination. There
are even times that usher in a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying, in which
one has to feel the bladder is full despite frequently undergoing urination.
Painful Urination
Another symptom for prostate cancer is painful or burning
urination. Even though this is unlikely and may be brought about by infections
or diseases such as urinary tract infection, among others. The pains resulting
from prostate cancer are usually related to the inflamed or infected area that
is being presented with the growth of cancer cells. Quite nervy, painful
urination might be, but any such case should always be checked by a
professional to rule out the possibility of prostate cancer.
Blood in the Urine or Semen
Passing blood with the urine or semen should also be
symptomatic of the presence of the malaise in the prostate due to cancer. This
is caused by the invasion of the blood vessels by the cancerous cells found
within it, and eventually, they begin to bleed. Blood in semen, though highly
frightening, is in fact a symptom of a great number of not cancer-related
reasons such as infection or trauma. However, such a bleeding should not be
left without attention, and the doctor must be informed without delay in order
to exclude serious conditions.
Painful Ejaculation
Painful ejaculation, experienced by many patients, is
another, though less common and less serious, symptom of the disease. This
rather unpleasant symptom is supposed to be caused by the influence of prostate
cancer on the prostate gland and local tissue. According to the same general logic
of all the other symptoms, painful ejaculation may be caused not by prostate
cancer, but by factors as prostatitis; inflammation of the prostate gland is
thus to be tested to determine the kind of disease.
Persistent Pain
Chronic lower back, hip, or pelvic pain that seems to be
incessant and never-ending could be a symptom of prostate cancer. Most pains of
these types would not be felt until the cancer has already metastasized from
the gland to the bones. These would not be typical in the early stages of the
illness, but any pain in those areas that is persistent needs to be brought to
the attention of a health care provider.
Unexplained Weight Loss
It should be another major red flag for prostate cancer if
weight is being lost without a recognized reason for it. Reasons for weight
loss can vary from changes in the diet to changes in the activity level to
other reasons due to health, but any unintentional, large weight loss in very
little time without explanation will need follow-up. Susie is, in most cases,
simply a signature either to more advanced stages of cancer or a systemic
effect of the cancer process.
Predisposing Factors to the Appearance of Symptoms
The variation of presenting symptoms of prostate cancer is
great. Clear-cut symptoms of prostate cancer will only appear when the malady
had already spread far long and the factors that determine it are:
Stage:
It is the earliest stage of prostate cancer, so it does not
reflect any signs and symptoms. In case this progresses into a higher stage and
it happens to have a big size of the tumor that has penetrated the surrounding
tissues or in times that it has metastasized to more sites of the body, then it
may be accompanied by manifesting symptoms.
Tumor Localization:
The location of the tumor within the prostate does matter in
the expression of signs and symptoms. If the tumor arises centrally or in the
posterior region of the prostate, then it can grow very large without giving
off any symptoms. The symptoms will come a little sooner in the peripheral part
compared to central localization.
Rate of development:
Prostate cancers grow at different rates. Aggressive
prostate cancers are more likely to cause symptoms early, while more indolent
cancers are slow in their growth rates, with most remaining asymptomatic for a
long period of time.
Individual Health Condition:
Overall health and the presence of other illnesses can alter
the proper management of symptoms. At least men with other conditions going on
to affect the prostate i.e. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, may not be aware of
which symptoms are being caused due to benign disease and which are indicating
cancer.
Need for Regular Checkup
Screening for prostate cancer is very important since it
helps alert doctors to the level of the disease, which is very crucial in early
prostate cancer because many a time, a patient with such cancer does not show
the sign or has very few symptoms of the disease. The two most common screening
tests for prostate cancer are prostate-specific antigen testing and digital rectal
examination. The PSA test is one of the procedures meant to measure, on a
quantitative basis, the amount of antigen-specific to the prostate present in
blood, while DRE is entailed in the physical examination of the prostate gland.
Conclusion
So, early signs and symptoms of prostate cancer are very important to recognize, investigate, and manage. This is because most cases of prostate cancer present no symptoms in their early stages; hence changes in urinary habits, painful urination, blood in the urine or semen, painful ejaculation, painful conditions that do not seem to go away, and unplanned weight loss must be discussed with a doctor.
Chances of early detection and
related chances of superior outcomes through routine screening and knowledge of
potential risk factor characteristics indicate that he should present to a
health provider if any of the above symptoms appear, or if prostate cancer is
considered, in order to arrange proper diagnostic and preventive measures.
Please book an appointment with the Best Urologist in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and all major cities of Pakistan through InstaCare, or call our helpline at 03171777509 to find a verified doctor for your disease.
