You have started waking up at night to urinate․
You don’t feel like you have the same flow, but you put it down to age.
It could be an enlarged prostate or something entirely different․ Guessing will not tell you what has changed․ And waiting for prostate cancer symptoms will not allow you to catch the disease for early treatment․
In this blog, we look at prostate cancer symptoms, who may benefit from a screening discussion, and how doctors choose between today’s prostate cancer treatment options.
Prostate Cancer at a Glance
| Quick answer: Early prostate cancer often causes no symptoms. A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test may help find a problem before symptoms appear, but the result cannot diagnose cancer on its own. Whether and when to have the test depends on your age, health, family history and preferences. |
The prostate gland is located below the bladder. Prostate cancer occurs when the cells in the prostate grow abnormally. Some cancers grow slowly and do not need treatment, but others do, so once doctors have found a cancer, the next step is to find out how likely it is that it will grow and spread.
Early Symptoms and Changes to Watch For
A man can feel well and still have early prostate cancer. Urinary changes can also be easy to dismiss as part of ageing.
“Waking repeatedly at night to urinate should not automatically be accepted as a part of ageing,” says one of the top urologists for prostate cancer in Delhi NCR.
The symptom can have several causes, so an assessment is needed to find out what is behind it.
Changes worth discussing with a doctor include:
- Difficulty starting urination or a weak urine stream
- More frequent urge to urinate, especially at night
- Blood in the urine or semen
- Persistent pain in the back, hips or other bones
- Unexplained weight loss or unusual tiredness
You should seek urgent medical attention if you have new or long-term changes, such as an inability to pee or new weakness or numbness in the leg with loss of bowel or bladder control.
Who Should Consider Prostate Cancer Screening
Prostate cancer screening means testing someone who has no symptoms. It is a decision to make with a doctor, rather than a test every man needs at the same age.
Doctors recommend discussing the benefits and limits of prostate cancer early detection screening at:
- Age 50 for men at average risk
- Age 45 for men at higher risk, including those with a father or brother diagnosed before age 65
- Age 40 for men who have one or more relatives who were diagnosed at an early age
These are ages to start the conversation, not automatic instructions to have a PSA test. Men with a strong family history or an inherited cancer risk should tell their doctor, even if they feel healthy.
How a PSA Test Can Help
PSA is a protein made in the prostate gland.
A blood test measures how much PSA is in your blood․ Scores above this may warrant further assessment, but high scores may not mean a diagnosis of cancer and may be due to prostate inflammation or other causes. A lower result does not completely rule out cancer.
If you have screening, a urologist consultation afterwards can help understand what your result means in the context of your age, past results, family history and so on.
Depending on this, your options may include repeat PSA testing, examination or further tests. It will rarely be helpful to make a decision based on a single number.
How Prostate Cancer Is Diagnosed
An abnormal screening result is the start of an assessment, not a diagnosis. During a urology doctor consultation, you can expect questions about your symptoms, health and family history.
Further steps may include:
- Repeat PSA Testing: This can help determine whether a raised result persists.
- Prostate MRI: Detailed images can show areas that need a closer look and help guide a biopsy.
- Prostate Biopsy: Small tissue samples are checked under a microscope. A biopsy can help confirm whether cancer is present or not.
- Tests to Check for Spread: Imaging may be recommended when the findings suggest a higher-risk cancer. It is not needed in every case.
If a biopsy finds cancer, the report describes its grade group, which helps show how the cancer is likely to behave. Doctors consider this alongside the PSA level and the extent of the cancer. Together, these findings guide the prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment discussion.
Modern Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer
Hearing you have prostate cancer doesn’t mean you need treatment. What treatment is best for you depends on the stage and grade group of your cancer, your overall health and what matters to you.
Other factors, including bladder control and sexual function, may be taken into account when making a choice.
Modern options include:
- Active Surveillance: For some low-risk cancers, doctors use scheduled tests to watch for signs of change. Treatment can begin if the cancer shows signs of becoming more serious.
- Surgery: A radical prostatectomy removes the prostate. It may be an option when the cancer can be treated with surgery.
- Radiation Therapy: Radiation targets cancer cells. It may be used on its own or with hormone therapy, depending on the case.
- Hormone Therapy: Medicines reduce or block the hormones that help prostate cancer grow. They are often used for more advanced disease or alongside radiation.
- Other Treatments for Advanced Cancer: Chemotherapy, targeted medicines or other specialised treatments may suit selected patients.
Ask your prostate cancer specialist what the recommended treatment aims to achieve, what follow-up it involves and how it may affect daily life.
When to Consult a Urologist
For men, this means asking about changes to urination and family history, discussing prostate screening when appropriate, and not ordering every available test for prostate health for men at the first appointment.
If you have blood in your urine, or have continuing urinary problems, or don't know how much risk you’re at, see a renowned urology specialist. You don’t need to know whether the cause is cancer before you go for an appointment.
Conclusion
Prostate cancer usually has no warnings or symptoms. Understanding your own risk and discussing screening at the right time may be helpful to you. The PSA test can help, but its results should be viewed with caution.
At Sarvodaya Hospital, Faridabad, the best prostate cancer hospital in Delhi NCR, urology and cancer specialists assess prostate concerns and discuss care based on the diagnosis. The hospital also offers robotic prostate surgery and radiation therapy for treatment. The suitable treatment is personalised depending on the individual.
If you have noticed a change, have a family history of prostate cancer or want to discuss screening, speak to a urologist for prostate cancer. Book an appointment now.
