Prostate cancer is a disease that affects thousands of middle-aged men every year. Mostly men above 65 years of age are diagnosed with this disease. The symptoms of prostate cancer are not apparent in the early stages. However, if you are above the age of 50 and are experiencing some discomfort, consult your doctor. Here are some signs and symptoms of prostate cancer.

Early signs
These are the signs you notice early on, and they might be because of some other health condition like an enlarged prostate. Nevertheless, they should not be ignored. The early signs can be:

• Difficulty urinating
• The weaker flow of urine
• The feeling that your bladder still isn’t empty after peeing
• Frequent urinating at night
• Sudden urge to urinate that sometime it may leak before you make it to the washroom
• Burning sensation when you pee
• Dripping urine even after you have urinated

Advanced prostate cancer symptoms
These signs may appear when prostate cancer has advanced and spread to different parts of the body. It has essentially left the prostate and is now pushing on your urethra.

• Unexplained and sudden pain in your back, hips and pelvic region
• Difficulty in getting or maintaining an erection
• There is bleeding when you urinate or ejaculate
• Rapid and sudden weight loss
• Inflammation in your legs and feet
• Tiredness that you did not feel before
• Change in your bowel movements

Please remember, there are other underlying problems that can cause these symptoms, but if you fall in the age category and have a family history of prostate cancer, you will have to get your symptoms checked by a doctor immediately.

Prevention

• Diet
  Stick to foods that have been proven to minimize the risk of prostate cancer such as tomatoes, green leafy vegetables, soy, and omega 3 rich oils such as olive oil. However, certain products can also increase the risk, and men should stay away from them. These include milk products and saturated fats.
• Exercise
  Regular exercise not only reduces your risk of getting cancer, but it also helps you lose weight. This is important as studies show that even obesity can be a cause of prostate cancer. Just getting in 30 minutes of exercise daily can significantly minimize your risk of getting this disease.
• Consult your doctor
  When men age, they automatically are at higher risk of getting prostate cancer. Therefore, men must get proactive during that time and get timely checkups. If diagnosed early on, the prognosis can be effective. So, never hesitate to open up to your doctor.

The above signs and symptoms of prostate cancer may seem very common, as you may attribute them to old age. However, ignoring the signs for too long may backfire. So, be aware and take action.