Prostate Cancer Slideshow Pictures Medical Illustrations of the Prostate Image Collection Screening Tests Every Man Needs Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Kevin C. Zorn, MD, FRCSC, FACS

Coauthor:

Gagan Gautam, MD, MCh (Urology)

Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

View Full Profile

When to Seek Medical Care

See your health-care provider if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Difficulty initiating and/or stopping a urine stream



• Frequent urination



• Pain on urination



• Pain on ejaculation



• Decreasing speed of urine flow or a urine stream that stops and starts



• A sensation of incomplete emptying of the bladder even after passing urine

Although, still considered controversial, most urologists would recommend regular screening for prostate cancer in men who are likely to live more than 10 years (for example, life expectancy >10 years).

• The American Urological Association (AUA) issued their latest guidelines for prostate cancer in 2009. According to these, men at the age of 40 should be offered a baseline PSA test and a prostate exam (digital rectal exam or DRE) to ascertain the risk of prostate cancer. Subsequent screening and tests may be performed according to the findings on this initial evaluation and an individual's risk of getting the disease on the basis of other factors such as race, ethnicity, and family history of prostate cancer. As mentioned, most urologists currently would advise some form of screening in men with life expectancy greater than 10 years. Most frequently, it would be performed on an annual basis.



• Although, there is no definite cutoff age to stop prostate cancer screening, most physicians would rarely screen men more than 75 years of age for this disease.

Go to the nearest hospital emergency department right away if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Urinary tract infection: Burning pain on urination, urgency, frequent urination, especially with fever



• Bladder obstruction: Not urinating or urinating very little despite drinking enough fluid; producing little urine despite straining; pain due to a full bladder



• Acute kidney failure: Not urinating or urinating little, with little discomfort, despite drinking enough fluid



• Deep bone pain, especially in the back, hips, or thighs, or bone fracture: Possible sign of advanced prostate cancer that has spread to the bones

Spinal cord compression is a true emergency and may be the first sign of cancer. It occurs when the cancer has spread to vertebrae of the spine and tailbone region. The weakened vertebrae can collapse on the spinal cord, causing symptoms and problems with function.

• Symptoms depend on the level at which the spine is compressed.



• Typical symptoms that might signal acute spinal cord compression include weakness in the legs and difficulty walking, increased difficulty urinating or moving your bowels, difficulty controlling your bladder or bowels, and decreased sensation, numbness, or tingling in the groin or legs.



• These are often preceded by pain in the hip (usually one-sided) or back lasting a few days or weeks.



• Such symptoms require immediate evaluation in the nearest hospital emergency department. Failure to be treated immediately can result in permanent spinal cord damage.