When it comes to our health, some of us are vigilant about reporting any small changes to our doctor, but others might choose to ignore things and hope they’ll go away.
But the earlier you notice something isn’t right and take action, the more there is that can hopefully be done to help if there is a problem.
This is especially true for any symptoms that are related to a type of cancer, as the earlier you are diagnosed, the more chance there is that the cancer hasn’t spread.
With this in mind, a prostate cancer specialist has shared some of the little-known warning signs of the condition he thinks everyone should know about.
Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer amongst men in the UK and mainly affects those over the age of 50, although you can get it at any age.
According to Cancer Research, it’s cancer of the prostate gland. The gland is a part of the male reproductive system and is located at the base of the bladder. It’s about the size of a walnut but gets bigger as men get older.
Cancer occurs when abnormal cells start to divide and grow in an uncontrolled way. The cells can grow into surrounding tissues or organs, and may spread to other areas of the body.
In many cases, prostate cancer doesn’t cause any symptoms at all. The best way of detecting prostate cancer early is with a PSA blood test, this can be done even in the absence of symptoms.
However, there are a number of warning signs you can should keep an eye out for, most of which are to do with urination. Problems with urinating can often be one of the first signs that something is wrong, especially if the cancer is pressing on or growing near the urethra.
Professor Hashim Ahmed, a Consultant Urological Surgeon at Cromwell Hospital, says: ‘It’s really important that men speak to their GP as soon as possible, if they notice any changes to their urine.’
He went on to share seven changes to be wary of, including needing to pee more frequently, as well as straining to pee and difficulty when starting to urinate.
You’ll know what’s normal to you but, if you start needing to urinate more often during the day, get a sudden urge to go or needing to get up during the night it can be a sign that your prostate has enlarged or of something else that is wrong such as a UTI.
As well as needing to urinate more often, men tend to find that when they get to the toilet, they have problems starting to urinate. This may be because the enlarged prostate or tumour is blocking the urine flowing through to the urethra.
A weak flow of urine can occur if the cancer is pressing on the urethra, meaning not all the urine in the bladder is able to pass. It may also mean that your bladder doesn’t feel empty and you need to go more frequently.
Similarly to finding it difficult to start urinating, men might also find it difficult to stop urinating once they’ve started, or may find they dribble urine after they’ve finished peeing.
As with other symptoms, this may be caused because the tumour or enlarged prostate is blocking the urine flowing through the urethra.
Blood in the urine can be a key sign that something is wrong. Even if it is only a small amount of blood, it is really important that this is checked by your GP as soon as possible.
This can include difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection, painful ejaculation, blood in the semen and decreased volume of ejaculation.
The expert adds: ‘If you’re displaying these symptoms, don’t panic. These can all be caused by other problems, and many are just temporary symptoms. All the same, it’s still a good idea to speak to your GP about any concerns you may have as soon as possible, so they can investigate further.’
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