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Seven Warning Signs Of Prostate Cancer That Strike On The Loo - Expert Says 'visit A GP'
Prostate cancer: Dr Hilary outlines signs and symptomsCancer isn't always one for making a grand entrance which is not necessarily the best news for prognosis.
Prostate cancer is no different and often develops slowly, making signs absent for many years.
However, once the deadly condition grows large enough, it could spur on seven symptoms that crop up when you visit the loo.
Abbas Kanani, a pharmacist from Chemist Click, said: "Symptoms for prostate cancer do not usually show until the cancer has grown large enough to put pressure on the urethra - the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the penis.
"At this stage, patients may notice more than one symptom."
READ MORE: Sleep hyperhidrosis 'most common' symptom of cancer that strikes at night, warns doctor
Expert shares seven signs of prostate cancer that strike on the loo. (Image: GETTY)The position of the cancerous tumour means that the tell-tale signs of prostate cancer are likely to appear on the toilet.
According to the expert, you should look out for the following symptoms:
While these signs don't guarantee that you have the deadly condition, it's important to "visit a GP".
Prostates can also enlarge because of a non-cancerous condition. (Image: GETTY)Kanani said: As men get older, their prostates enlarge because of a non-cancerous condition called benign prostate enlargement.
"It is common in men aged over 50 and can cause similar symptoms."
The NHS explains that if the prostate becomes enlarged, it can place pressure on your bladder and the urethra, triggering symptoms similar to prostate cancer.
The good news is that there is treatment for this benign condition, which will depend on how severe your symptoms are.
Cancer signs and symptoms to look out for include bleeding. (Image: Express.Co.Uk)Apart from symptoms that appear when you go to the loo for number one, the expert shared other signs that could hold clues.
Kanani added: "Bone and back pain, a loss of appetite, pain in the testicles and unintentional weight loss can be all signs that the cancer may have spread and you should visit a GP.
"There's no single test for prostate cancer so you'll be advised on the pros and cons of the various tests.
"You're likely to have a urine sample to check for infection, PSA testing where a blood sample is taken to test your level of prostate-specific antigen and have a digital rectal examination."
Weight Gain In Young Adulthood May Increase Aggressive Prostate Cancer Risk
A study from Sweden finds that men who gain weight as young adults are more likely to develop aggressive or fatal prostate cancer later on.
According to the study, men who gained on average 1 kilogram each year from the ages of 17 to 29 increased their risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer by 13% and fatal prostate cancer by 27%.
The study was conducted by researchers from Lund University in Malmö, Sweden, and the authors presented their findings at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) 2023 in Dublin, Ireland.
While weight gain was associated with prostate cancer across adulthood, its incidence was driven more directly by weight gain in young adults.
For men gaining about 1.1 pounds (0.5 kilograms) over the course of their adult lives, the risk of aggressive cancer was increased by 10%, and the risk of fatal cancer rose by 29%.
Researchers tracked health data for 258,477 men who had taken part in the Obesity and Disease Development Sweden (ODDS) study between 1963–2014. Each had been prostate-cancer-free at the start of the ODDS study, and was weighed at least three times between the ages of 17 and 60 years.
For the new study, participants were followed up for an average of 43 years, until 2019, at which time cases of prostate cancer and deaths among the group were recorded.
Of the entire study cohort, 23,348 participants had been diagnosed with prostate cancer at an average age of 70 years, and 4,790 had died from prostate cancer.
Following skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men. It is estimated that 288,300 American men will be diagnosed in 2023 with the disease, or about one out of every nine men.
Black men are at higher risk of developing prostate cancer than their white counterparts. The reasons are not fully understood, with theories ranging from disparities in healthcare access and socioeconomic status to the manner in which darker skin synthesizes vitamin D.
In the U.S., just two or three out of every 100 men will die from prostate cancer, with the most common factor being one's age at diagnosis. The older someone is when they are told they have the disease, the more likely they are to die of it.
Dr. David Shusterman, medical director of urology at NY Urology, not involved in the recent study, told Medical News Today, however, that "not all prostate cancers are aggressive or fatal. In fact, many prostate cancers grow very slowly and may not cause any symptoms or health problems."
In the U.S., many men are regularly screened for prostate cancer, resulting in frequent early detection when the disease is more treatable. It may be for this reason that in the U.S. The 5-year survival rate after a diagnosis of prostate cancer is 97%, with the 10-year survival rate being 98%.
Prostate cancer screening involves prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing as a part of one's checkup bloodwork. For some years, PSA testing was on the decline due to an abundance of false positives that resulted in unnecessary treatment. During those years, however, prostate cancer rates spiked, and PSA tests are now returning to greater regular use.
The new study, however, cites a concerning, strong link between weight gain and aggressive or fatal cancers.
Urologist Dr. Adam Ramin, not involved in the study, had some words of caution regarding the research: "You have to keep in mind that this is a study that was done in the Scandinavian countries. And in those countries, the way prostate cancer is diagnosed is different than in other countries."
"Generally, people are not getting screened for prostate cancer [in those regions]," he claimed. As a result, said Dr. Ramin, "you end up finding the more aggressive cancers because those are patients who end up with some sort of symptom that requires further evaluation."
"The research is important," Dr. Shusterman said, "because it highlights the potential long-term health consequences of weight gain during a specific age range."
"We know that obesity [at any time in adulthood] can increase [the likelihood of prostate cancer] by about 50%," noted Dr. Ramin, but the young adult years may be especially critical.
Dr. Ramin cited a "whole slew" of chemical changes that can occur in young adult men.
"We know that obesity in this age group," he explained, "is associated with higher levels of a particular growth factor called the insulin-like growth factor, or IGF. We know that IGF has been identified as a possible cause for prostate cancer."
In addition, he said, fatty tissues at this age produce leptin, another substance that has been associated with prostate cancer.
Finally, pointed out Dr. Ramin, "[w]hat happens is as a person becomes more obese — especially in men, and especially in this age group — they develop more belly fat than fat in other areas in the body."
"This belly fat tends to convert testosterone into other hormones, and it's possible that there may be a hormonal connection to prostate cancer as well."
– Dr. Adam Ramin
The takeaway from this study, said Dr. Ramin, is that "the earlier a person loses weight, the less likely it is that it's going to cause prostate cancer. But what the sweet spot is [in age] and how many years, that's very hard to tell. And I'm sure it would be different from person to person."
"Overall," concluded Dr. Shusterman, "this research highlights the importance of maintaining a healthy weight throughout life, as doing so could prevent having adverse health issues later in life."
'Most Common Signs' Of An Enlarged Prostate - And Other Prostate Problems To Spot
Prostate cancer symptoms shared by doctor on BBC Morning LiveThe prostate is a small gland, located in the pelvis, between the penis and bladder and has two periods of growth throughout a man's life.
Christian Brown, Consultant Urological Surgeon at The Princes Grace Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare UK, explained: "The first begins with puberty, during which the prostate can double in size.
"The secondary phase of growth begins during the mid-twenties and will often continue for the rest of a man's life.
"A young man's prostate is generally the size of a walnut, while an older man's prostate is usually the size of a ping-pong ball. As the prostate doesn't stop growing, it can grow as large as a tennis ball in some men, or even larger as they age."
While many young men feel prostate problems are only an issue for old men, they can begin at any age, advised Brown.
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Prostate problems can begin at any age (Image: GETTY)He continued: "Implementing a healthy lifestyle can reduce your chance of having prostate problems in the future.
"The most obvious and common signs of an enlarged prostate all regard urinating. If you are struggling to pee, suffer with 'stop-start' urinating, find yourself frequently urinating, and waking up in the night to pee, then your prostate is likely to be enlarged.
"Incontinence can also become an issue for some men. There are two main types of incontinence, with the first being called urge incontinence. This can happen when you have a sudden need to urinate and can't get to the toilet in time.
"The other type is called stress incontinence, which can occur when your body strains to avoid urinating when sneezing, coughing, or lifting something that is heavy."
The prostate is a small gland, located in the pelvis, between the penis and bladder (Image: GETTY)The treatment for an enlarged prostate gland will depend on how badly the symptoms are affecting your quality of life.
The NHS lists the main treatments as:
Research suggests that pumpkin seeds used in combination with saw palmetto may be particularly beneficial in supporting prostate health.
Saw Palmetto is an herbal remedy that comes from a type of palm tree, and which has been used in traditional medicine for centuries to relieve urinary symptoms, including those caused by an enlarged prostate.
A. Vogel offers Prostasan Saw Palmetto extract capsules RRP 30 capsules £19.99.
An increase need to pee can be a sign of prostate cancer (Image: GETTY)Other common prostate problems include prostatitis and prostate cancer. The NHS lists the symptoms of all these conditions to look out for.
Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland and there are two main types - chronic prostatitis and acute prostatitis.
Chronic prostatitis is where symptoms come and go over several months, and is the most common type. Acute prostatitis is where the symptoms are severe and come on suddenly. It's rare but potentially life-threatening and requires immediate treatment.
Symptoms of acute prostatitis may include:
Chronic prostatitis symptoms may include:
Prostate cancer usually develops slowly so there may be no symptoms for many years.
When symptoms do appear, it's usually when the prostate is large enough to affect the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the penis (urethra). The following may occur:
If you experience the symptoms of any of these conditions, see your GP.
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