Considering prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Aussie men, the rise in late-stage diagnoses are all the more alarming. That’s why we’re compiling a few symptoms to look out for that suggest it’s time to head down to your doctor.

Prostate cancer is slated to affect 24, 217 Australian men every year with one in six males diagnosed by the time they’re 85 years old. And it’s not just here in Australia – around the world, prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancer. It involves the growth of abnormal, malignant cells – what we know as a tumour – in the prostate, and these cancerous cells can spread around the body, increasing the risk of severity and death – this is why early intervention is so important.

While prostate cancer can affect any male, there are a number of risk factors to be aware of:

• Being aged 50 years or older
• Genetic history of prostate cancer
• Lifestyle and environment factors may also contribute

Difficulty urinating

Urinary problems are one of the most common signs of prostate cancer, and this is because the prostate is positioned so close to the bladder and urethra. A tumour on the prostate often presses against these organs in the urinary system, leading to a number of symptoms:

Urinary problems can include:

• A frequent urge to urinate
• A slow, interrupted flow
• A weak flow
• Blood in urine

Sexual symptoms

Pain and erectile dysfunction are both symptoms of prostate cancer, along with blood in semen.

Numbness

Numbness and weakness in the legs and feet are common symptoms of prostate cancer, and this can happen as a result of the tumour pressing on the spinal cord.

Pain

Severe pain in the back, hips or chest are symptoms that may indicate the cancer has spread. Some find they lose control of their bladder and bowel when the cancer spreads, leading to incontinence. 

What to do

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, your best course of action is to head to the doctor. You may be asked to take a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, which is a blood test that counts the number of prostate proteins in your blood, where a high level indicates the possibility of prostate cancer. You may also be asked to undergo a digital rectal exam, where a doctor searches for any bumps or enlarged areas that may indicate cancer. Prostate imaging and biopsies are other options for testing, with new research showing that MRI or ultrasounds are helping to detect prostate cancer earlier.

Some research indicates that poor lifestyle choices – like diet and exercise – can contribute to the development of the condition as a result of increased inflammation. One study found that the consumption of added sugars, particularly from beverages, increased the risk for prostate cancer by 21%. But it’s not just about inflammation, it’s also about insulin. Researchers have found that the level of insulin – the hormone that controls sugar – can be a contributing risk factor. When we spike our blood-sugar levels, our insulin increases, which then affects cells transporting sugar throughout the body. This then encourages the tumour cells to take up more sugar and promote its growth – this is why it’s important to prevent those frequent blood-sugar spikes by eating whole, nutritious foods instead of highly-processed foods.

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