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Cancer Information Tips :: Prostate Cancer Symptoms
Prostate Cancer Symptoms: Identifying the Symptoms to Catch Prostate Cancer Early
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Prostate cancer symptoms are not identifiable in the earliest stages of the disease, but when they do occur it is important that you not ignore them.
While many enlargements of the prostate are not cancerous, you must consult a doctor to find out what is causing the symptoms.
What is a Prostate?
The prostate is a walnut-sized sex gland found below a man's bladder and in front of the rectum. Women do not have a prostate.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men. The first is lung cancer.
Who is at Risk for Prostate Cancer?
Prostate cancer is not very common in men under 50. The risk of prostate cancer increases in men over 55, especially those with a family history of the disease. Hispanic and African-American men are also at higher risk.
There are also lifestyle choices that can put men at higher risk for prostate cancer.
Sedentary lifestyles and diets high in saturated fat or lacking vitamins D and/or E can play a factor. Having an already enlarged prostate can also be a risk.
Symptoms of Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer symptoms include urinary and sexual dysfunction.
Symptoms can include pain in the pelvic area, an overactive bladder, difficulty either starting or stopping the flow of urine, painful or burning urination, urinary infection and erectile dysfunction or painful ejaculation.
It is important to remember that prostate cancer has no unique symptoms. Consult a doctor if you experience any of these symptoms so they can determine the underlying cause.
You can also request a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, where your doctor draws blood and screens for elevated levels of PSA. A high PSA level indicates that you are at higher risk for prostate cancer.
Conditions with Symptoms Similar to Prostate Cancer
There are many diseases that share prostate cancer symptoms. Medical conditions like urinary tract infections, arthritis and diabetes have some similar symptoms.
An inflammation of the prostate gland, prostatitis, has signs similar to prostate cancer symptoms.
Often caused by bacterial infections, in most cases prostatitis can be cleared up with a regimen of antibiotics and pain relievers.
Symptoms include pelvic pain, sexual dysfunction and an increased urgency and frequency in urination as well as pain in urination.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia has many of the same symptoms as prostate cancer, but is a benign enlargement of the prostate.
It is not life-threatening and is very common in aging men. Benign prostatic hyperplasia can cause an increase in urination or urinary retention.
It is important to inform your doctor of any of these symptoms since they could also be indicative of prostate cancer symptoms.
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CancerInfoTips.com :: Prostate Cancer Symptoms