Prostate Symptoms and Prostate Problems

Prostate symptoms range from the mildly annoying to the severely painful.  The most important fact to realize is that the symptoms for many of the most common prostate problems such as prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer are often the same.  It is the diagnosis that may be different.  Which underlies the most important point: see your doctor immediately if you have any of these symptoms.  Early diagnosis and early treatment can save your life.

For men who are over 45, the most common problem is an enlarged prostate called benign prostate hyperplasia, or BPH.  Many men will just continue to live with the symptoms and discomfort.  Although BPH an prostate cancer are not always linked, some men with BPH do develop prostate cancer.  The most common problem with ignoring BPH can be urinary tract infections.

BPH symptoms are:

• An urgent need to urinate
• Increased urinating, especially at night
• A feeling of having to push out urine
• A sensation that you still have to go, even when you've just finished
• Intermittent starting and stopping of the urinary stream (think Leslie Nielsen in "The Naked Gun")
• Leaking or dribbling
• Small amounts of blood in the urine

There is a huge difference between BPH and prostate cancer.  BPH is a normal part of aging.  Prostate cancer is a condition where prostate cells grow exponentially and out of control.  These cells create tumors that may spread to any part of the body. 

The symptoms for prostate cancer are:

• None
• Weak urine flow
• A burning feeling when urinating
• Blood in the urine

Did the first symptom catch your attention?  That is because early stage prostate cancer often has no symptoms for many years.  Often the first sign of prostate cancer can be an abnormality on a PSA blood test or by a Digital Rectal exam, known in locker rooms around the world as "the glove".  All men with any of the above symptoms or at age 40 should be tested.  If you think you don't, read the treatment options for prostate cancer!

Numerous health organizations report that 1 in 6 men will experience prostate cancer.  However, if the condition is diagnosed early, approximately 99.3% of them will survive.   The key is early detection.