Prostate Cancer Symptoms and Risk Factors

Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

In most cases, prostate cancer causes no symptoms. In rare cases, men may experience symptoms that could indicate more advanced prostate cancer including:

• More frequent urination
• Difficulty urinating
• Blood in the urine
• Pain and stiffness in the back, hips, upper thighs or pelvis

It is important to remember that these symptoms are usually NOT caused by prostate cancer, but only a physician can make that determination. This makes early detection and prostate cancer screening particularly important.

Incidence and Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer

Certain men are at higher risk than others for prostate cancer, which may affect when they should start being screened. The risk increases with age, particularly after age 50. Some risk factors include:

• African American men are twice as likely as white men to develop the disease.
• Having a family history – a father or a brother diagnosed with prostate cancer, particularly if it is at a relatively early age – increases the risk.
• Having a family history of breast and ovarian cancer may also be associated with an inherited risk of developing prostate cancer
• High-fat diet and/or obesity
• Smoking
• A sedentary lifestyle

Conversely, there may be measures to aid in the prevention of prostate cancer and that can reduce risk, including diets low in fat and high in fruits, vegetables and whole fibers. Foods with high amounts of the antioxidant lycopene – such as tomatoes, grapefruit, and watermelon – may help to lower the risk, as can regular exercise. 5 alpha reductase inhibitor medications can also reduce a person’s risk for developing low-risk prostate cancer. Other prevention strategies are currently being studied.

Prostate Cancer Questions Answered

UCLA urologist Christopher Saigal, MD, presented a live-streaming webinar to discuss the basics of prostate cancer, including anatomy, risk factors and common misconceptions.
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