10 Signs of Prostate Cancer
The prostate is a small gland that is found only in men and is located between the penis and the bladder. The urethra, which is the tube that goes from the bladder to the end of the penis, passes directly through the prostate. The prostate has the job of secreting a fluid that helps to protect sperm as it passes through during ejaculation.
Of all the cancers that men can get, prostate cancer is the most common. Thankfully, it is usually treatable and out of every 41 men that get it, only 1 will die statistically speaking. Regardless, it is a good sign to know what the symptoms are to help ensure it is diagnosed and treated as soon as possible
1. Leaking Urine
It is important that wild animals do what they can to not reveal themselves unnecessarily to predators. This is one reason why we tend to store up our urine until such a point where it can be released in one go. If it were to be released in small amounts, it would leave a trail that predators could easily follow.
Some medical conditions, however, can cause urine to leak out involuntarily. In the wild, this could be very dangerous for the patient. In civilization, it can be very embarrassing. This symptom is a sign that you should get medical assistance regardless of the suspected cause.
2. Unable To Fully Relieve Oneself
When we urinate, we will generally remove as much of the stored urine as we can. Hopefully all of it. This leaves us with an empty bladder, and this means that it should take longer before it needs to be emptied again. Thus, when we do finish urinating, we will usually be left feeling fully relieved.
In cases of prostate cancer, however, this may not be the case. The prostate itself can become swollen and this can force it to press against the bladder. This, in turn, can make us feel as though the bladder has not been emptied, even when it has been.
3. Difficulty Starting To Urinate
When we begin to urinate, the flow will usually begin more or less straight away. In some cases, we can even have difficulty stopping the flow from starting if we have left it a bit too late. In patients that have prostate cancer, however, it is not always this easy.
Men with prostate cancer can find that no matter how much they might feel the need to urinate, they just cannot get started. This can be very frustrating and can leave the patient having to give up, no matter how badly they might need to pass urine. This can happen if the prostate is blocking the flow of urine from the bladder.
4. Weak Urine Flow
When we urinate, various muscles work together to help squeeze the bladder, ejecting urine out of the body forcefully. When we squeeze enough, the flow of urine can be quite strong, which is helpful because it helps ensure the urine passes out well away from the body.
Men with prostate cancer can also find that this is a problem, however. Not only can it be difficult for them to get the flow started to begin with but, when the flow does finally start, it can be a lot weaker than it usually would be. This is likely because the swollen prostate is squeezing the urethra, limiting the flow of urine through it.
5. Sudden Need To Urinate
The urge to urinate usually starts off as a very mild sensation. This generally acts as a warning that we will need a trip to the bathroom in the next hour or so, depending on the individual. Regardless, it is usually plenty of time for people to find a bathroom even though we might sometimes be careless enough to get caught short.
This is more of a problem for some men with prostate cancer, however, because they will sometimes experience a sudden urge to urinate without warning. This can be quite difficult depending on their location at the time, and it can result in some rather embarrassing situations.
6. Urinating At Night
Many people are able to sleep all night without having to wake up to use the bathroom, whereas others will need to go maybe once or twice. Not everybody likes having to get out of bed when they are snug, but it shouldn’t take long and you can fall asleep when you get back to bed.
Men with prostate cancer, however, can find that they have to get up regularly at night to use the bathroom. This can be quite bothersome for them because it can mean not getting enough sleep at night, leaving them struggling the following day. They can also find they need to urinate more frequently in the day time.
7. Erection Problems
When a man is aroused, his penis will become erect. It does this by inflating in much the same way that a balloon would. Instead of being inflated with air, however, blood is pumped into the penile tissue causing it to become ‘inflated’.
This usually happens subconsciously, and it can even happen at some awkward moments with the man having little to no control over it. Other men, however, can find that they have difficulty getting and/or maintaining an erection even when it is the appropriate time to do so. It can happen for various reasons, and prostate cancer is one of them.
8. Back Pain
One of the biggest concerns with most cancers is that it can spread to other parts of the body, at which point treatment becomes a great deal harder. Locally advanced prostate cancer means that the cancer has broken out of the prostate, but has still not yet spread to other parts of the body.
Advanced prostate cancer means that it has spread to elsewhere in the body. When this happens, it will cause symptoms including pain in the affected area. Thus, when advanced prostate cancer does occur, it can often lead to pain in the back, pelvis, and hip areas if the cancer has reached these parts.
9. Blood In Urine
If you do notice blood in your urine then you should get it checked out as soon as possible. It is not a normal symptom and it can be caused by some potentially very serious conditions. One of these potentially serious conditions is cancer.
It is possible that the blood is coming from a scratch or similar in the urethra, or maybe from some sort of infection. Regardless, it is always a good idea to get it checked by a medical professional as soon as you can. Cancers are easier to treat the sooner they are diagnosed, and prostate cancer is no different.
10. Weight Loss
Weight loss might sound like a good thing to people that are overweight. If it is happening unexpectedly, however, then there is a chance that it is being caused by something that is far from being good for us. It could be a sign of a serious problem, such as prostate cancer.
Cancer is very demanding on the body, and energy and nutrients will be redirected to help the immune system battle it. As a result of this, the patient can begin to lose weight drastically and rapidly. Remember that it is always best to lose weight in a steady, controlled manner.
