Main symptoms of prostate cancer
Prostate cancer often has no symptoms at first.
Prostate cancer usually starts to grow on the outer part of the prostate. This means it does not press on the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis (urethra) and cause symptoms, until the cancer has grown or spread.
If this happens, it can cause changes to the way you pee, such as:
- finding it difficult to start peeing or straining to pee
- having a weak flow of urine
- "stop start" peeing
- needing to pee urgently or often, or both
- feeling like you still need to pee when you've just finished
- peeing during the night
Other symptoms can include:
- erectile dysfunction (being unable to get or keep an erection)
- blood in your urine or blood in your semen
- lower back pain and losing weight without trying to (these may be symptoms of advanced prostate cancer)
Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:
- you're over 50 years old, come from a Black ethnic background or have a history of prostate cancer in your family and you're worried about your risk of prostate cancer
- you're having trouble peeing or other symptoms of prostate cancer
If you're at higher risk of having prostate cancer, you can ask your GP about doing a blood test that shows if there are any problems with your prostate.
Try not to be embarrassed if you have possible symptoms of prostate cancer. The doctor or nurse will be used to talking about these symptoms.
Important
These symptoms do not always mean you have prostate cancer. You can also get some of these symptoms if you have an enlarged prostate. This is a non-cancerous condition caused by the prostate getting larger as you get older.
You might find you get used to some of these symptoms. But it's important to be checked by a GP if your symptoms change, get worse, or do not feel normal.
What happens at your GP appointment
The GP will ask about your health and if you have any health problems. They may ask if anyone in your family has had prostate cancer, ovarian cancer or breast cancer. This is because some genes can increase your risk of getting cancer.
They may then ask to check your prostate gland by doing a rectal examination. This is where a doctor or nurse gently puts 1 finger inside your bottom. They wear gloves and put lubricating gel on their finger first.
You can ask for a male or female doctor or nurse, if one's available. You can have a friend, family member or other member of staff in the room with you if you want.
Referral to a specialist
You may get an urgent referral for more tests or to see a specialist in hospital if the GP thinks you have symptoms which could be cancer. This does not definitely mean you have cancer.
PSA blood test
Your GP may also ask if you want to have a PSA blood test. They'll explain the benefits and risks of the test to help you decide.
A PSA test cannot tell you if you have prostate cancer, but it can show if there are any problems affecting your prostate.
You'll need to have other tests to confirm if you have cancer, or if you have something less serious such as an enlarged prostate or prostate infection (prostatitis).
PSA test results usually take 1 to 2 weeks.