Health Update

Prostate cancer is typically a progressive disease that occurs at a slow rate. It can also develop with no signifi cant symptoms, particularly in the early stages of the disease. As the disease progresses, however, symptoms such as the following begin to appear:

• The need to urinate frequently, particularly at night
• Problems in the initiation and cessation of urination
• The complete inability to urinate
• Blood in the urine
• Painful ejaculation
• Burning or painful urination
• Persistent pain in the upper thighs, lower back, or hips

It is important to note that benign conditions involving the prostate such as enlargement (benign prostatic hypertrophy, BPH), infections, and stones can mimic the symptoms of cancer, so a professional consultation is important. When the cancer metastasizes to the ribs, pelvis, or vertebral bodies, it can lead to bone pain in prostate cancer patients.

Source:Prostate Cancer Fund,(a special program of Project Cure Foundation) P.O. Box 96673, Washington, D.C. 20090-6673 • 1-800-716-2152. Photo courtesy of www.meb.uni-bonn.de