Table of contents:
- Symptoms and characteristics of prostate cancer are common
- 1. Frequent urination
- 2. Difficulty urinating
- 3. Pain when urinating
- 4. Erection problems arise
- 5. Blood in urine or semen
- Symptoms of prostate cancer that have spread
- Differences in the symptoms of prostate cancer and BPH
Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that often occurs in men with a high mortality rate. However, this disease may still be cured if detected early, so that you can immediately get prostate cancer treatment. Therefore, it is important for every man to recognize the characteristics or symptoms of this disease. Then, what are the signs of prostate cancer that might appear?
Symptoms and characteristics of prostate cancer are common
Prostate cancer generally does not cause any symptoms, especially in its early stages. The reason is, reported by Cancer Research UK, most cases of prostate cancer tend to start on the outside of the prostate gland. In this condition, the cancer cells are not large enough and close enough to compress the urethra or urethra around it.
On the other hand, when prostate cancer cells enlarge and develop, the urethra will be compressed so that this disease often changes your urination habits.
The following changes in urination habits that may occur along with other signs, signs, or symptoms of prostate cancer:
1. Frequent urination
Depression of the urethra due to the growth of cancer cells allows you to urinate more often than usual. You may go back and forth to the bathroom to urinate for a 24 hour period, including when you fall asleep at night or what is known as nocturia.
If you wake up more than once overnight to urinate, you may have nocturia. However, don't panic, although this is one of the signs of prostate cancer, nocturia can also be caused by other medical conditions.
Consult your doctor if this happens to you, especially if you have other features of prostate cancer, such as a strong urge to urinate unusually.
2. Difficulty urinating
In addition to frequent trips to the bathroom, you may also find it difficult to urinate, including difficulty emptying your bladder completely.
This condition is usually characterized by difficulty starting or stopping the flow of urine, inability to urinate, weak or reduced urine flow, intermittent or interrupted urine flow, and a long time to urinate.
Sometimes, this difficulty emptying the bladder is also characterized by leaking urine, which is a condition when the urine continues to drip even after you've finished urinating.
3. Pain when urinating
Difficulty urinating is usually accompanied by pain. This pain generally feels like burning or is very painful when you urinate or pass your urine.
4. Erection problems arise
Other symptoms and characteristics of prostate cancer that are common in men are problems with an erection. This condition is usually characterized by difficulty getting or maintaining an erection or a lack of desire for sexual intercourse
In addition to an erection, you may also experience pain during ejaculation or a decrease in the amount of fluid you ejaculate.
5. Blood in urine or semen
The presence of blood in the urine (hematuria) or semen is another sign of prostate cancer. However, these symptoms generally appear when the cancer cells have developed or are at an advanced or late stage of prostate cancer.
This condition is usually characterized by urine or semen that is brownish or reddish in color.
However, the presence of blood in the urine or semen could be due to other conditions. Consult your doctor if this happens to you, to determine whether it is related to cancer or other medical conditions.
Symptoms of prostate cancer that have spread
Apart from those mentioned above, you may experience other symptoms, especially if your prostate cancer is already at an advanced stage (metastasized) or has spread to other parts of the body, such as bones, lymph nodes, lungs, liver, or brain.
The symptoms you feel depend on which organs will be affected by the spread of the cancer cells. Frequently, however, prostate cancer cells spread to nearby bones and lymph nodes. In this condition, the symptoms that generally occur are:
- Bone pain, especially in the back, hips, waist, thighs, or other bone areas (depending on the spread of cancer cells).
- Severe fatigue.
- Weight loss for no apparent reason.
- Loss of appetite.
- Weakness or numbness in the legs or feet.
- Loss of control of urination or bowel movements.
- Swelling of the lower body.
Apart from those mentioned above, other symptoms may also arise. If this happens to you, let your doctor know and always consult with your doctor to get the right treatment.
Differences in the symptoms of prostate cancer and BPH
Prostate cancer and benign prostate enlargement (benign prostate hyperplasia /BPH) is equally common in men over the age of 40. Both also have the same symptoms, namely changes in habits or problems with urinating.
However, prostate cancer and BPH are different. BPH is a noncancerous or benign condition and is not a precursor to prostate cancer. However, you can experience an enlarged prostate along with having an area in the prostate gland that contains cancer cells.
Therefore, if you feel any signs of changes in urination habits as mentioned above, you should immediately see a doctor. Although not always linked to prostate cancer, other medical conditions, such as BPH, may also need treatment, especially if your symptoms are particularly bothersome.
By anticipating symptoms as early as possible, you may also be able to prevent prostate cancer from developing so that the chances of a cure are still high.
