Prostate cancer is a silent killer. Unlike many other cancers where symptoms occur early on, making the disease easier to detect, with prostate cancer there are no early warning signs.
Only once a tumor causes the prostate gland to swell, or the cancer spreads beyond the prostate, will there be signs that the disease may be present. While regular screenings are essential for the identification and treatment of prostate cancer, if it goes undetected, the following are among the most common signs of the disease.
1. Urination Issues
Experiencing troubles while urinating is among the most common indicators of prostate cancer. According to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, these difficulties can include:
- Burning or pain during urination
- Difficulty urinating, or trouble starting and stopping while urinating
- More frequent urges to urinate at night
- Loss of bladder control
- Decreased flow or velocity of urine stream
- Blood in urine (hematuria)
While these issues may indicate a prostate concern, they are not symptoms of the cancer. They occur as a result of the tumor in the prostate pressing on the bladder.
