Early prostate cancer is usually asymptomatic i.e. there are no symptoms. Men with prostate cancer are usually detected based on abnormal examination during digital rectal examination where nodules are felt on the prostate gland and/or due to abnormal blood investigations (elevated serum prostate-specific antigen levels).
When the cancer is locally advanced, the patient may present with LUTS or lower urinary tract symptoms (e.g. urgency, slow stream) or even blood in the urine.
Prostate cancer tends to spread to the bone. Hence patient may present with bone pain and other constitutional symptoms like loss of weight or loss of appetite.
Do note that as a man ages, his prostate will increase in size. This is known as benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). Prostate cancer can coexist with BPH. Symptoms of BPH would be LUTS. This explains why the urologist would always do a digital rectal examination and check the serum PSA levels when men present with LUTS due to an enlarged prostate.
Men with a family history of prostate cancer are at higher risk of developing this cancer. These men are advised to see a urologist early for assessment of their risk of having prostate cancer.
