Prostate cancer: Early warning signs that may signal this common cancer in men

Cancer is a chronic disease associated with the uncontrollable and abnormal growth of cells. Prostate cancer is the cancer that affects the prostate gland. Unfortunately, this type of cancer is common and affects one in seven men, making it the second most common cancer among men worldwide.

Experts believe an early diagnosis can help treat the condition on time and may even reduce the risk of an advanced cancer i.e. when the cancer spreads to other organs in the body.

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Prostate cancer is cancer that grows in the prostate gland, which is a small walnut-shaped gland in males that produces the seminal fluid, explains the Mayo Clinic.

It is important to note that not all cancers show symptoms. Cancers take their time to develop and spread, which is why it tends to grow slowly and gradually over many years. Most men with early prostate cancer do not experience any noticeable signs. Only when the tumour grows, signs of prostate cancer begin to appear.

However, if you're vigilant, you may catch hold of the symptoms early in the stage.

According to the UK National Health Services (NHS), early warning signs of prostate cancer include:

- The need to pee more frequently, often during the night

- The need to rush to the toilet

- Difficulty in starting to pee (hesitancy)

- Straining or taking a long time while peeing

- Weak flow

- Feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully

- Blood in urine or blood in semen

Prostate cancer causes several urinary symptoms, which include a weak flow, needing to pee more frequently, hesitancy in urination, straining while peeing, etc.. However, not all urinary symptoms mean prostate cancer.

Some of the other causes of urinary symptoms include urinary tract infection (UTI) or a bladder infection in men.

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If you have any urinary problems or notice any blood in your urine or semen, it is best to consult a urologist and get yourself tested. Your doctor may advise you to get a Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, which helps detect high levels of the protein in your blood - indicative of cancer.

They may examine your prostate gland and also do an MRI scan to be more accurate about the diagnosis. Biopsies may be required to reach a conclusion.

Prostate cancer is often divided into four stages, with stages III and IV being more advanced prostate cancer.

According to the Urology Care Foundation, advanced or stage IV prostate cancer is incurable, since it means the cancer has spread outside the prostate to other parts such as the lymph nodes, bones, liver or lungs.

However, the charity shares that advanced cancer can be treated and symptoms can be managed.