PROSTATE cancer symptoms usually don’t become apparent until the disease
has progressed. While certain signs may not mean you definitely have
the cancer, they shouldn’t be ignored. There are five things to look out
for when you go to the toilet to indicate you have this type of cancer.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, but because
the disease develops slowly, there may be no signs you have it for many
years.
Symptoms often only become apparent when the prostate is large enough to
affect the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the
penis), says the NHS.
When this happens, you may begin to notice symptoms, most of which are linked to your toilet habits.
From passing urine more often to leaking urine, there are five signs you
should watch out for to indicate the disease, according to Cancer
Research UK.
Passing urine more often
You might find you need to empty your bladder more than normal during the day.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, but
because the disease develops slowly, there may be no signs you have it
for many years
Getting up in the night
You may be getting up a few times in the night to empty your bladder.
Difficulty passing urine
It might be harder to empty your bladder than normal. This is called urinary hesitancy.
The charity explains: “It might be difficult to start emptying your bladder or the flow might be weaker.
“You might be straining to pass urine. Or it might stop and start when you do go.”
Urgency
You might often have a sudden strong urge to empty your bladder. And you may need to rush to the toilet.
Leaking urine
You might find that you leak a little after passing urine.
Other symptoms of prostate cancer that can occur include blood in urine
or semen - though this is rare - and erection problems - but this is
uncommon.
Many men could confuse an enlarged prostate with one of the symptoms of prostate cancer.
But how can you tell the difference and are you more likely to get prostate cancer with an enlarged prostate?
Firstly what is the prostate?
The prostate is a small gland, located in the pelvis, between the penis and bladder.
It’s supposed to be about the shape and size of a walnut, and as well as
letting urine flow out of the body, it secretes fluid that nourishes
and protects sperm.
The medical term for an enlarged prostate is benign prostatic enlargement.
If the prostate becomes enlarged, it can place pressure on the bladder and urethra, affecting how you pee.
According to the NHS, this can cause difficulty starting to pee, a
frequent need to pee, and difficulty fully emptying your bladder.
By Katrina Turrill
https://www.geezgo.com/sps/32650
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