Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the country. According to statistics, one in every seven men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. The disease in itself displays symptoms at a very slow pace. Hence, identifying early signs and symptoms of the condition and addressing them is highly important. If identified in the early stages, before cancer spreads to other parts of the body, an individual has good chances of recovering from the disease.

The symptoms of prostate cancer are usually not shown till the prostate is large enough to disrupt regular body functioning. However, there are some signs that could indicate the presence of prostate cancer in its early stages. These signs are:

• Painful urination with blood: Hematuria is the condition where blood is present in urine. If the condition of hematuria is observed in combination with painful urination, it should be considered as an early warning sign for prostate cancer.

• Erectile dysfunction: This condition can be caused by a number of conditions apart from prostate cancer. In some cases, particular types of medication can also lead to erectile dysfunction. However, if the individual faces this problem in combination with painful urination, they would definitely need to get checked for prostate cancer.

• Poor control over the bladder: Individuals suffering from prostate cancer in its early stages will experience a lot of difficulty in controlling their bladder. Soiling their pants because of the lack of control is common. While this condition might occur for a wide spectrum of urinary disorders, getting it checked through a urologist for prostate cancer is recommended.

• Constant pain in lower back: Persistent pain in the hips, pelvis, and lower back is an early warning sign of prostate cancer. If this sign is observed in combination with any of the above signs, it makes a case for prostate cancer and would definitely require a thorough checkup.

• Decreased semen levels: If the semen level is low it can count as an indicator for prostate cancer. In the case that semen levels are found to be lower than normal, the individual should get checked for prostate cancer. It is particularly required if any of the above signs are also seen along with reduced semen levels.

Majority of prostate cancer cases are only diagnosed at later stages. Individuals should seek professional medical help immediately if they observe symptoms such as frequent urination, pain on urination, bone pain, fractures, difficulty in controlling a urine stream, pain on ejaculation, sensation of incomplete emptying of the bladder post urination, and decreased speed of urine stream.