Prostate cancer: What are the signs and symptoms?
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK and because it develops slowly there may be no signs you have it in the early stages.
Symptoms often become apparent when your prostate is large enough to affect the tube that carries urine form the bladder to the penis - the urethra.
According to Bupa, there are eight symptoms you could experience as the disease progresses - all of which are linked to the way you urinate.
The first is pain when urinate. You may also be unable to urinate, need to urinate urgently, need to urinate more often than usual, get up to urinate during the night, or have blood in your urine.
Having a weak flow of urine when you go to the toilet, or having trouble starting or stopping when you urinate, can also be indicators.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK and because it develops slowly there may be no signs you have it in the early stages
If the cancer has spread outside your prostate, other symptoms can develop.
You may experience difficulty getting an erection, feel tired and generally unwell, feel pain in your bones or your back, or lose weight.
Many men could confuse an enlarged prostate with one of the symptoms of prostate cancer.
But how can you tell the difference and are you more likely to get prostate cancer with an enlarged prostate?
Firstly, the prostate is a small gland, located in the pelvis, between the penis and bladder.
Prostate cancer symptoms: If this happens when you urinate you could have the disease
It’s supposed to be about the shape and size of a walnut, and as well as letting urine flow out of the body, it secretes fluid that nourishes and protects sperm.
So what are the symptoms of an enlarged prostate?
The medical term for an enlarged prostate is benign prostatic enlargement. If the prostate becomes enlarged, it can place pressure on the bladder and urethra, affecting how you pee.
According to the NHS, this can cause difficulty starting to pee, a frequent need to pee, and difficulty fully emptying your bladder.
Are you more likely to get prostate cancer with an enlarged prostate?
Having an enlarged prostate doesn’t increase your risk of getting prostate cancer, according to Prostate Cancer UK.
The charity states: “The two problems usually begin in different parts of the prostate. But men can have an enlarged prostate and prostate cancer at the same time.”
But if you are worried about prostate cancer you should talk to your GP.
How is prostate cancer treated?
Treatment for an enlarged prostate will depend not he severity of your symptoms - if your symptoms are mild you may be advised to make lifestyle changes such as drinking less alcohol and exercising regularly.
For many men with prostate cancer, no treatment will be necessary, just active surveillance will be required.
If prostate cancer does progress, and depending on the individual circumstance, a cancer care team will be best to advise what treatment is available.