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Signs and Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

The prostate is a small gland shaped like a walnut. It makes seminal fluid that "nourishes and transports sperm," according to the Mayo Clinic. Prostate cancer often grows slowly, and sometimes, the cancer will not spread beyond the prostate. However, in other cases, the cancer can spread quickly throughout the body.

  1. Significance

    • Prostate cancer is "the most common non-skin cancer in America," according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation. In fact, one out of every six men will be affected by prostate cancer. A man is 27 percent more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than "a woman is to be diagnosed with breast cancer." An estimated 2 million men in the United States are currently suffering from prostate cancer.

    Features

    • Rarely, urinary problems can be a sign of prostate cancer, but these symptoms are common in many other prostate problems. Fewer than 5 percent of prostate cancer patients experience urinary problems according to the Mayo Clinic. More common symptoms include blood in the urine and blood in the semen. If the cancer spreads from your prostate to your lymph nodes, you may experience a swelling in your legs or a discomfort around your pelvis. If the cancer spreads to your bones, you may experience bone pain, fractures or a compression of your spine.

    Considerations

    • However, many men develop prostate cancer without showing any symptoms until the cancer has advanced outside the prostate, and at that point, it might be too late to effectively fight the cancer. You have "a better chance of successful treatment" if your cancer is diagnosed before it spreads outside the prostate, according to the Mayo Clinic.

    Detection

    • Prostate cancer can be detected through either a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test or a Digital Rectal Exam (DRE). PSA is a protein. It's made by the prostate, and small amounts of it are released into the blood. In a PSA test, blood is drawn, and a high PSA level is a sign of prostate cancer. In a DRE, the doctor "inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum and examines the prostate for any irregularities in size, shape and texture," according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

    Treatment

    • Prostate cancer treatments vary depending on the size of the tumor and whether or not it has spread beyond the prostate. If the cancer is detected early, treatment options include radiation therapy and surgery. More advanced cases can be treated using "drugs to reduce testosterone levels, surgery to remove the testes or chemotherapy," according to health.nytimes.com.

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