Prostate cancer Health Article

Signs and symptoms

Frequently, prostate cancer has no symptoms, and the disease is diagnosed when the patient goes for a routine screening examination. However, occasionally, when the tumor is larger or the cancer has spread to the nearby tissues, the following symptoms may occur:

• • weak or interrupted flow of the urine
• • frequent urination (especially at night)
• • difficulty starting urination
• • inability to urinate
• • pain or burning sensation when urinating
• • blood in the urine
• • persistent pain in lower back, hips, or thighs (bone pain)
• • difficulty having or keeping an erection (impotence)

Diagnosis

Although prostate cancer may be very slow-growing, it can be quite aggressive, especially in younger men. When the disease is slow-growing, it may go undetected. Because it may take many years for the cancer to develop, many men with the disease are likely to die of other causes rather than from the cancer.

Prostate cancer is frequently curable when detected early. However, because the early stages of prostate cancer may not have any symptoms, it often remains undetected until the patient goes for a routine physical examination. Diagnosis of the disease is made using some or all of the following tests.

Digital rectal examination (DRE)

In order to perform this test, the doctor puts a gloved, lubricated finger (digit) into the rectum to feel for any lumps in the prostate. The rectum lies just behind the prostate gland, and a majority of prostate tumors begin in the posterior region of the prostate. If the doctor does detect an abnormality, he or she may order more tests in order to confirm these findings.

Blood tests

Blood tests are used to measure the amounts of certain protein markers, such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA), found circulating in the blood. The cells lining the prostate generally make this protein and a small amount can be detected in the bloodstream. However, prostate cancers typically produce a lot of this protein, and it can be easily detected in the blood. Hence, when PSA is found in the blood in higher than normal amounts (for the patient's age group), cancer may be present. Occasionally, other blood tests also are used to help with the diagnosis.