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The symptoms of prostate cancer usually do not appear until the cancer has become big enough to exert pressure on the urethra – the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the penis. Symptoms may be caused by another condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia or non-cancerous prostate enlargement. But the only way to find out is to go see a generalist. Many symptoms of prostate cancer may appear when a man goes to the bathroom – Macmillan Cancer Support lists five symptoms to watch for.
These symptoms include:
- Difficulty with peeing – for example, low flow or having to work hard to start peeing
- Need to pee more often than usual, especially at night
- You feel that you have not completely emptied your bladder after peeing
- An urgent need to pee
- Blood in the pee or sperm
In rare cases, someone with prostate cancer may feel pain while peeing or ejaculating.
How to test prostate cancer
If you have symptoms of prostate cancer, your GP may ask you questions about it and examine you.
They may also recommend a specific antigen test for the prostate, also called PSA test.
Bupa explains what it means: "PSA is a protein that can be produced by both normal cells and cancer cells.
"A high PSA rate does not always mean that you have cancer because it tends to increase naturally with age."
Men over 50 can apply for a PSA test to a GP, even if they have no symptoms.
However, men are not routinely offered PSA testing for prostate cancer because the results may be unreliable.
Your doctor may also recommend a digital rectal exam, in which your doctor will check the size, shape and feel of your prostate through the wall of the rectum.
In some cases, you may need to have an MRI to perform a biopsy.
How to treat prostate cancer
The treatment of prostate cancer will depend on the situation of each individual, advises the NHS.
For many men with prostate cancer, no treatment will be necessary.
The health organization explains: "When treatment is needed, the goal is to cure or control the disease so that it affects daily life as little as possible and does not shorten life expectancy.
"Sometimes, if the cancer has already spread, the goal is not to cure it, but to prolong life and delay symptoms."
Advanced prostate cancer can trigger other symptoms in different parts of the body.
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