World Cancer Day: Prostate cancer warning signs men over 50 should never ignore

Frequent urination, pelvic pain, sexual changes—these could be early signs of prostate cancer. Doctors stress screening after 50. (Pic credit: Pexels)

• Early prostate cancer symptoms are mild and often mistaken for ageing issues
• Regular screening is crucial for men over 50 or with family history
• Blood in urine, pelvic pain, or sexual changes may signal prostate cancer

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Prostate cancer is one of the most common male cancers, but its early symptoms can be vague, and it’s easy to ignore. Often warning signs are confused with ageing related or transient lower urinary tract symptoms resulting in delayed diagnosis. You may think it’s no big deal if you have symptoms such as going to the bathroom a lot, trouble starting or stopping when you pee, or pain in your pelvic area — and that includes changes in sex.

Dr Gaurav Garg, Senior Consultant – Urology and Andrology at Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, Saket says that most often patients who are detected of prostate cancer in early stages have no or very mild symptoms which is why it requires regular screening and awareness particular if a person is over 50 years of age or has a family history.

“Diagnostic and treatment modalities have significantly improved the prognosis when disease is diagnosed at an early stage. The knowledge, early consultation and the screening for each other can be of importance in complications prevention and better long term survival,” he says.

Also Read: Prostate cancer: Why it's the fastest-growing cancers among urban men in India, how to prevent it

1. Lower urinary tract symptoms

Going to pee multiple times during daytime and night is often dismissed as normal aging. Difficulty in starting urine stream or weak stream, prolonged voiding time happens when enlarged prostate parenchyma compresses on urinary passage. Burning sensation while passing urine and urine dribbling can also be initial signs

2. Blood in urine /semen

Some men may get alarmed by the presence of blood in urine or semen, but most men ignore faint traces as temporary. This is an alarming sign as it indicates irritation of urinary passage by tumour.

3. Pelvic Pain

Some men feel constant discomfort in pelvis and lower back and may often attribute it to work stress or because of exercise. Many prostate cancer cases may spread to bones and can cause constant pain in back, hips and thighs. Most men over 50 years of age often attribute this to sedentary lifestyles rather than cancer itself.

4. Sexual Symptoms

ED (Erectile dysfunction), reduced sexual desire or reduced semen volume. It often gets blamed on advancing age or stress. Sudden onset of these sexual issues often warrants an early screening for prostate cancer in men above 50 yrs of age

General Warnings

Unexplained weakness, fatigue, anorexia weight loss, or incomplete urine emptying can signal systemic spread of cancer. Such symptoms in men above 50 yrs of age should not be ignored and further investigated

Also Read: Second-most common cancer in men: Key symptoms of prostate cancer and latest treatments

Why Men Miss Them

Prostate cancer is one of the common cancers in men globally, yet most men are not able to diagnose it early. The early signs of prostate cancer overlap with benign enlargement of prostate (BPH), delaying action. Due to lack of awareness and stigma most men avoid discussing sensitive urinary or sexual problems . Consultation with Urologists, blood tests like PSA and DRE (digital rectal examination) in men above 50 yrs of age can catch the disease early improving the survival.

FAQs on Early Signs of Prostate Cancer

1. What are the early urinary symptoms of prostate cancer?

Going to the bathroom frequently, difficulty starting or stopping urination, a weak urine stream, prolonged voiding time, a burning sensation while passing urine, and urine dribbling can be initial signs of prostate cancer.

2. Should I be concerned about blood in my urine or semen?

The presence of blood in urine or semen, even faint traces, is an alarming sign, indicating irritation of the urinary passage by a tumour.

3. Can pelvic pain be a sign of prostate cancer?

Yes, constant discomfort in the pelvis and lower back may be attributed to work stress or exercise, but it could also be a sign of prostate cancer, especially if the pain spreads to the bones, hips, or thighs.

4. Are changes in sexual function related to prostate cancer?

Erectile dysfunction, reduced sexual desire, or reduced semen volume can be symptoms of prostate cancer. These issues warrant early screening in men above 50 years of age.

5. What general warning signs should I be aware of?

Unexplained weakness, fatigue, weight loss, and incomplete urine emptying can signal the systemic spread of cancer. Men over 50 should not ignore these symptoms and should seek further investigation.

Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis