With the advent of PSA testing, most prostate cancers are now found before they cause symptoms. Additionally, while most of the symptoms listed below can be associated with prostate cancer, they are more likely to be associated with non-cancerous conditions.

Prostate Cancer Symptoms

• Urinary hesitancy (delayed or slowed start of urinary stream)
• Urinary dribbling, especially immediately after urinating
• Urinary retention
• Pain with urination
• Pain with ejaculation
• Lower back pain
• Pain with bowel movement

Additional  Prostate Cancer Symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• Excessive urination at night
• Incontinence
• Bone pain or tenderness
• Hematuria (blood in the urine)
• Abdominal pain
• Anemia
• Weight loss
• Lethargy

Information about prostate cancer symptoms and causes

The cause of prostate cancer is not known, however, it is found mainly in men over the age of 55. The average age at diagnosis is 72. In fact, 80% of the prostate cancer cases occur in men over the age of 65. As men grow older, the likelihood of getting prostate cancer increases. While only 1 in 100,000 men will get prostate cancer under the age of 40, the frequency rises to 1,326 cases in 100,000, for men between the ages of 70-74. Hence, age appears to be a risk factor for prostate cancer. Race may be another contributing factor, because African-Americans have the highest rate of prostate cancer in the world.

Some studies have shown that a family history of prostate cancer, puts a man at a higher risk for getting this disease. In addition, there is some evidence to suggest that a diet high in fat increases the risk of prostate cancer. Workers in the electroplating and welding industries who are exposed to the metal cadmium and rubber industry workers appear to have a higher than average risk of getting this disease. Research has indicated that men with high plasma testosterone levels also may be at an increased risk for developing prostate cancer.