These non-specific symptoms may be caused by prostate cancer. Don’t underestimate them
Prostate cancer is an insidious and dangerous disease that takes a deadly toll among men of all ages, both older and younger. It is one of the most common male cancers. Every year, over 19,000 Poles hear this diagnosis, but cancer is often detected too late. See what symptoms are worth paying attention to.
Prostate cancer develops “silently”. It does not give any signals for a long time, and those that do appear are often downplayed or put down to completely different causes. Cancer is often discovered by accident. This was the case, among others, of the recently deceased priest Tadeusz Isakowicz-Zaleski. Late diagnosis often makes effective treatment difficult and sometimes even impossible. That’s why it’s so important not to ignore any disturbing symptoms in your body and see a doctor right away.
What symptoms can prostate cancer cause?
Most people associate constipation only with harmless gastric symptoms occurring, for example, after a too large meal. Meanwhile, problems with bowel movements may indicate the development of prostate cancer. Other often underestimated symptoms of prostate cancer include:
-
chronic fatigue that does not improve after rest,
-
weight loss,
-
anemia (anaemia),
-
erectile dysfunction,
-
sores on the body (for example in the mouth),
-
frequent urinary tract infections,
-
back pain in the lumbar region,
-
pelvic pain.
These symptoms are often accompanied by a burning sensation when urinating or a feeling of pressure on the bladder. Blood appearing in urine is also an important alarm signal. A patient who notices such symptoms should immediately contact his or her primary care physician.
What are the risk factors for prostate cancer?
The risk of prostate cancer is increased by various lifestyle factors, for example: improper diet, overweight and obesity, smoking, drinking alcohol, etc. A high level of testosterone in the body is also important. Therefore, in young men (under 45 years of age), the cancer often develops faster and is more aggressive. However, the peak incidence is recorded in the 65+ group. It is worth emphasizing that the most important role in the prevention of prostate cancer is played by regular diagnostic tests, such as the PSA test (blood test) and per rectum examination, i.e. palpation of the prostate through the rectum performed in a urologist’s office.
