{"id":34999,"date":"2024-09-18T07:00:33","date_gmt":"2024-09-18T07:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/?p=34999"},"modified":"2025-09-10T16:30:33","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T16:30:33","slug":"the-warning-signs-of-prostate-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/the-warning-signs-of-prostate-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"The warning signs of prostate cancer","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

As a physician assistant at MultiCare Capital Urology<\/a>, David Elkins, PA-C<\/a>, can tell you how important screenings are in diagnosing prostate cancer at an early stage.<\/p>\n

As a prostate cancer survivor, he can also tell you early prostate cancer typically causes no symptoms.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t have any symptoms,\u201d Elkins explains. \u201cMy cancer was caught during my annual PSA [prostate-specific antigen] screening. It was localized, stage 1 cancer, and very treatable.\u201d<\/p>\n

If symptoms are present, however \u2014 like back pain, problems urinating, blood in the urine or semen, trouble getting an erection, fatigue, or unexplained weight loss \u2014 that usually signifies prostate cancer has spread and is in a later stage.<\/p>\n

These symptoms can also be caused by other medical conditions.<\/p>\n

Symptoms that mimic other health issues<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Urination problems, for example, are common symptoms of a noncancerous condition called benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH)<\/a>, or enlarged prostate. The prostate gland surrounds the urethra, and because the gland often continues to grow as men age, it then puts pressure on the urethra, causing urinary frequency and urgency, among other symptoms.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf there are significant, acute changes in urinary symptoms, it\u2019s best to be seen by a urologist,\u201d says Basil Ferenczi, MD<\/a>, of MultiCare Urology Northwest<\/a>. \u201cIf there\u2019s blood in the urine, we want to rule out kidney and bladder cancer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Back pain is another symptom that can be present for a multitude of reasons.<\/p>\n

\u201cBottom line: Don\u2019t minimize your symptoms. If you\u2019re experiencing anything out of the ordinary, make sure you talk to your doctor and get checked out.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cIntense lower back pain that doesn\u2019t go away with rest and gets worse at night, however, may indicate prostate cancer has metastasized to the lower spine,\u201d says Patrick Murray, MD<\/a>, also with MultiCare Capital Urology.<\/p>\n

Unintended weight loss and fatigue are warning signs that can be caused by various medical conditions, but they are also very common with metastatic cancers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reason this happens is because cancer expends so much energy in order to grow \u2014 it causes a person to feel extreme fatigue, and they can\u2019t maintain their weight,\u201d adds Dr. Murray.<\/p>\n

\u201cBottom line: Don\u2019t minimize your symptoms,\u201d advises Elkins. \u201cIf you\u2019re experiencing anything out of the ordinary, make sure you talk to your doctor and get checked out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Early detection is key to effective treatment<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Because Elkins\u2019 cancer was in an early stage, he had a prostatectomy, which is the surgical removal of the prostate. He\u2019s cancer-free and will continue to get an annual PSA screening to make sure the cancer doesn\u2019t recur.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf caught early, prostate cancer can be cured; seldom is chemo or radiation needed,\u201d Elkins says.<\/p>\n

While prostate cancer treatments have advanced in the last five to 10 years, the intention of these treatments in later-stage cancers is to keep the cancer at bay.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese therapies can slow progression, but they aren\u2019t meant for curative intent,\u201d says Dr. Murray.<\/p>\n

Know your risk factors and when to start screening<\/strong><\/h2>\n

MultiCare providers recommend men at average risk who are age 55 and older should have a discussion with their provider about when to begin prostate cancer screening.<\/p>\n

Those with factors that put them at a higher risk of prostate cancer, including family history, inherited gene mutations and being African American, should start the conversation as early as age 40.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe decision on when to screen is one that should be made between you and your provider,\u201d adds Dr. Ferenczi. \u201cThat said, if someone is experiencing any symptoms, even if BPH is suspected, we will check the PSA.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As a physician assistant at MultiCare Capital Urology, David Elkins, PA-C, can tell you how important screenings are in diagnosing prostate cancer at an early stage. As a prostate cancer survivor, he can also tell you early prostate cancer typically causes no symptoms. \u201cI didn\u2019t have any symptoms,\u201d Elkins explains. \u201cMy cancer was caught during […]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":451,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[43,71],"tags":[167],"class_list":["post-34999","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cancer","category-mens-health","tag-prostate-cancer"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe warning signs of prostate cancer - MultiCare Vitals<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn what signs and symptoms may signify prostate cancer and which ones could mimic other health conditions.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/the-warning-signs-of-prostate-cancer\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The warning signs of prostate cancer - 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