Prostate cancer is a formidable foe that kills tens of thousands of men every year.
The World Cancer Research Fund International notes that age-adjusted incidence rates of prostate cancer have increased dramatically, citing the increased availability of screening for prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, for helping to find prostate cancer in men who otherwise might never know they were sick. In fact, the Prostate Cancer Foundation notes that there usually aren’t any early warning signs for prostate cancer, which only highlights the importance of routine screenings.
Tumors resulting from prostate cancer may not push against anything to cause pain, even as they are growing. So men who do not receive routine prostate cancer screenings may live for years with the disease without knowing it. Such screenings can be a great ally in the fight against prostate cancer, but men can also remain on the lookout for potential signs of the disease. In rare cases, prostate cancer can produce the following symptoms, which men should immediately bring to the attention of their physician.
ISSUES WITH URINATION
A need to urinate frequently, especially at night, might be a symptom of prostate cancer.
Some men may experience difficulty starting or holding back urination; those who are experiencing these symptoms should contact their physician.
Men with prostate cancer may experience weak, dribbling or interrupted flow of urination. Such issues may be symptomatic of other conditions, so men should not immediately assume they have cancer.
ERECTION ISSUES
Some men experience difficulty in having an erection, and that may or may not be a byproduct of prostate cancer.
Men may also notice a decrease in ejaculate or experience painful ejaculations. While these symptoms are not always a result of prostate cancer, they should be reported to a physician who can then take measures to confirm or rule out the presence of cancer.
OTHER SYMPTOMS
The PCF notes that conditions such as prostatitis and benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH, are common, benign diseases that can cause symptoms similar to prostate cancer. But men should still report symptoms such as blood in their urine or semen; pressure or pain in their rectum; and/or pain or stiffness in their lower back, hips, pelvis, or thighs to their physicians the moment they begin to feel such symptoms.
Men concerned about prostate cancer or interested in learning more about screenings can visit pcf.org for more information
-Metro Creative Connection
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