Question

1. Why does the patient with prostate cancer present with symptoms later in the disease?

Answer 1

The prostate is a small walnut like structure in males that produces seminal fluid. Prostate cancer is the cancer in the prostate gland. It is a very common type of cancer. It is of two types mainly: non-agressive and agressive. Non agressive ones may grow slowly and needs minimal or even no treatment ie, harmless. The other type is agressive which will spread quickly.

In most men, early prostate cancer doesn't possess any symptoms. It is mainly due to the way the cancer grows. The person will usually get symptoms if the cancer is near to the urethra and presses against it thereby changing the urinary pattern which are the most common symptom of this malignancy. But if the cancer grows in a different part, usually the outer part of the prostate, it doesn't press the urethra and cause symptoms.

The most common symptoms of prostate cancer include: a decreased flow of urination, incomplete emptying of bladder, dribbling of urine, a sudden urge to urinate etc. As the cancer spreads to other parts of the body which means in the advanced stages the person may experience, blood in the urine, blood in the semen, bone pain, unexplained weight loss, erectile dysfunction etc. All these symptoms can be associated with other disease conditions also. This can also be a reason for its late diagnosis.