Signs and Symptoms of Prostate Cancer
Most prostate cancers are found early, through screening. Early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms. More advanced prostate cancers can sometimes cause symptoms, such as:
- Problems urinating, including a slow or weak urinary stream or the need to urinate more often, especially at night
- Blood in the urine or semen
- Trouble getting an erection (erectile dysfunction or ED)
- Pain in the hips, back (spine), chest (ribs), or other areas from cancer that has spread to bones
- Weakness or numbness in the legs or feet, or even loss of bladder or bowel control from cancer pressing on the spinal cord
Most of these problems are more likely to be caused by something other than prostate cancer. For example, trouble urinating is much more often caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a non-cancerous growth of the prostate. Still, it’s important to tell your health care provider if you have any of these symptoms so that the cause can be found and treated, if needed. Some men might need more tests to check for prostate cancer.
Last Revised: August 1, 2019
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Staging
- Can Prostate Cancer Be Found Early?
- Screening Tests for Prostate Cancer
- American Cancer Society Recommendations for Prostate Cancer Early Detection
- Insurance Coverage for Prostate Cancer Screening
- Signs and Symptoms of Prostate Cancer
- Tests to Diagnose and Stage Prostate Cancer
- Prostate Cancer Stages and Other Ways to Assess Risk
- Survival Rates for Prostate Cancer
- Questions To Ask About Prostate Cancer