Prostate cancer is something that can sneak up on you when you least expect it. In fact, about 250,000 men in the United States are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year. If you catch it early enough, it can be successfully treated. But, if it has been let go for too long, the results could be a lot more painful and even possibly deadly.
What are the warning signs of prostate cancer? There are five common symptoms that you should be aware of. That way, if you experience any of them, you can quickly get it checked out and treated with your local health physician.
Pain or Burning Sensations
If you start to experience pain or burning sensations while urinating or ejaculating, this could be a sign of prostate cancer. You might feel some minor pain or burning at first, and it could get worse over time.
Prostate cancer is typically slow-moving, but give it enough time and the symptoms can worsen as the cancer metastasizes into other areas of the body. That is why prompt prostate cancer testing is so vital in the earlier stages. You can contact your local health provider to get the next steps on how to get the needed testing to check for the cancer.
Blood In Urine or Semen
If you notice traces of blood in your semen or urine, you could be at risk of having prostate cancer. This would be an indicator that the cancer is somewhat advanced, having possibly spread to its favorite areas to travel to – the lymph nodes or kidneys. A urinalysis is something that your doctor can order to check for blood in your urine. After that, you might be asked to go get a digital rectal exam and, if needed, a ultrasonography and a biopsy of prostate tissue. This process will take place if your physician decides that it is necessary and there were abnormal findings.
Frequent Urination
Frequent urination can be another sign of prostate cancer. If this is the case, the cancer has grown big enough to compress the urethra. Frequent urination is a symptom of a lot of different conditions but is one that needs to be taken seriously. It is highly recommended to follow up with a urologist to see what could possibly cause the frequent urination. No matter the cause, catching the problem early is going to help you get rid of it sooner and prevent any serious illnesses to develop.
Trouble Stopping or Starting Urination
If you cannot stop or start urinating, this could also be a telltale sign that the cancer is compressing the urethra. If you lose your ability to urinate at all, then the cancer could have spread quite far into the urinary tract. This is a slightly concerning situation if you find yourself in this position, it is highly recommended to schedule an appointment with a urologist if you notice these symptoms.
Sudden Erectile Dysfunction
Prostate cancer is not a direct cause of erectile dysfunction, also known as ED, but treatments for prostate cancer can actually cause ED. They decrease your body’s ability to produce testosterone. Ejaculation can be very minimal after treatment, but functionality should eventually return. If it doesn’t, you should contact your doctor and voice your concerns and get tips on what to do next.
Signs of prostate cancer can vary from person to person, but they should all be taken seriously. When caught in earlier stages, prostate cancer is treatable. If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately and set up an appointment to get checked out. Don’t delay – schedule an appointment today.
