Prostate cancer symptoms: The urinary signs of the disease you should not ignore

Many men experience urinary changes as they age, which may be caused by inflammation or enlargement of the prostate gland. If you experience any of these urinary symptoms it could be an early indication of prostate cancer and should not be ignored.

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Cancer Treatment Centers of America said: “Because of the proximity of the prostate gland to the bladder and urethra, prostate cancer may be accompanied by a variety of urinary symptoms, especially in the early stages.

“Depending on its size and location, a tumour may press on and constrict the urethra, inhibiting the flow of urine.

“Some early prostate cancer signs include burning or pain during urination, difficulty urinating, or trouble starting and stopping while urinating, more frequent urges to urinate at night, and loss of bladder control.”

Michigan Medicine also explained: “The urethra – the tube that carries from your bladder and through your penis – passes through the middle of the prostate gland.

“When the prostate presses against the urethra, you can have trouble passing urine.

“If you have urinary symptoms, see your doctor to find out the cause.

“It may be cancer, or it may not. If it is cancer, removing the cancer usually relieves the pressure on the urethra.”

Surgery to remove the prostate and its cancer may damage nerves or the bladder outlet muscle.

This weakens support for the lower bladder and stress incontinence may occur.

Radiation therapy can cause increased urinary frequency and urgency.

It may also cause narrowing of the urethra and some men may also experience incontinence following surgery for prostate cancer.

Chronic incontinence is a long-term difficulty controlling urine and treatment is based on the type of incontinence and how much it affects a person’s life.

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How to reduce your risk

Mayo Clinic advises if you want to reduce your risk of prostate cancer, consider trying to choose a low-fat diet.

It says: “Foods that contain fats include meats, nuts, oils and dairy products.

“In some studies, men who ate the highest amount of fat each day had an increased risk of prostate cancer.”

The NHS said you should see your GP if you have these symptoms.

It states: “It’s much more likely to be prostate enlargement, but it’s important to rule out cancer.

“The outlook for prostate cancer is generally good because, unlike many other types of cancer, it usually progresses very slowly.

“Many men die with prostate cancer rather than as a result of having it.

“Prostate cancer therefore does not always need to be treated immediately and sometimes it may initially just be monitored and only treated if it gets worse.”

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