Prostrate Cancer

Prostate cancer affects the prostate gland, the gland that produces some of the fluid in semen and plays a role in urine control in men. There are often no early prostate cancer symptoms. Prostate cancer treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy, cryotherapy, hormonal therapy, and/or radiation. In some instances, doctors recommend “watchful waiting.

Symptoms

There are usually no symptoms during the early stages of prostate cancer. However, if symptoms do appear, they usually involve one or more of the following:

• Frequent urges to urinate, including at night
• Difficulty commencing and maintaining urination
• Blood in the urine
• Painful urination and, less commonly, ejaculation
• Difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection may be difficult

Advanced prostate cancer can involve the following symptoms:

• Bone pain, often in the spine, femur, pelvis, or ribs
• Bone fractures

If the cancer spreads to the spine and compresses the spinal cord, there may be:

• Leg weakness
• Urinary incontinence
• Fecal incontinence