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Dr. Mohammadreza Dabiriفارسی
Questions and answers

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

Urinary problems do not always mean cancer; the symptoms, benign causes and the path to diagnosis

Updated: 28 October 20261 min read7 references
Short answer

Prostate cancer usually has no symptoms at first [2]. If it does cause symptoms, they may be difficulty starting to pass urine, passing urine often, especially at night, a feeling that the bladder has not emptied completely, and a weak or interrupted flow; in advanced disease, pain in the back, hips or pelvis and tiredness may also occur [3]. These same urinary symptoms are often caused by harmless prostate enlargement or other prostate problems [3]; so a symptom does not mean cancer, but see your doctor to have it checked.

Key points

  • Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide [1].
  • Many men who have prostate cancer would never know about it without testing [2].
  • An MRI before biopsy finds significant cancers better and avoids some unnecessary biopsies [5].

Symptoms of prostate cancer

SymptomExplanationWhat to do
Difficulty starting to pass urineOne of the symptoms; also seen in harmless prostate enlargement [3]See your doctor to be checked
Passing urine often, especially at nightOne of the symptoms; also seen in harmless prostate enlargement [3]See your doctor to be checked
A feeling that the bladder has not emptied completelyOne of the symptoms [3]See your doctor to be checked
A weak or interrupted flow of urineOne of the symptoms [3]See your doctor to be checked
Pain in the back, hips or pelvisMostly in advanced disease [3]Have bone pain that persists checked
TirednessMostly in advanced disease [3]See your doctor to find the cause

This table does not replace an examination by a doctor; in most people these symptoms have a benign cause.

The path to diagnosis

  1. 1

    PSA test and examination

    Measuring PSA and sometimes a finger examination; a high PSA is usually repeated once [6].

  2. 2

    Prostate MRI before biopsy

    In one study, MRI before biopsy found more significant cancers, and about 1 in 4 men did not need a biopsy because their MRI was normal [5].

  3. 3

    Targeted biopsy

    If the MRI shows a suspicious area; a biopsy through the skin between the scrotum and the anus has a lower risk of infection [4].

  4. 4

    Staging in high-risk disease

    PSMA PET is more accurate than CT and a bone scan; in one study it made far fewer errors than the older methods [7].

When should I call my doctor?

If you have new or worsening urinary problems, or persistent pain in the back, hips or pelvis with no clear cause, see your doctor. Most of these symptoms have a benign cause [3], but only a doctor's assessment can find the cause.

Being completely unable to pass urine, fever and chills with urinary symptoms, or sudden weakness in the legs need urgent care.

Related questions

I get up several times a night to pass urine; do I have prostate cancer?

Not necessarily. Harmless prostate enlargement and other prostate problems cause symptoms similar to cancer [3]. See your doctor to find the cause.

My PSA is high; does that mean I have cancer?

Not necessarily. Read more: Does a high PSA mean prostate cancer?

From what age should I have a PSA test?

The US Preventive Services Task Force considers the decision personal for men aged 55 to 69 and does not recommend it for men aged 70 and over [2]. The European Association of Urology suggests offering the test from age 50, from 45 with a family history, and from 40 in BRCA2 carriers [4].

Related cancer types

Prostate cancer

Related questions

Can I exercise during cancer treatment?Does a high PSA mean prostate cancer?How many chemotherapy sessions will I need?Is cancer hereditary?Is prostate cancer curable?What does metastasis mean, and can it be treated?What is a PET scan and how is it used in cancer?What is a tumour marker and when is it useful?

References

7 references
Show all references, 5 with a study cardClose the reference list

Numbers in the text, such as [1], refer to these sources. Sources with a “Study card” button are summarised in the site’s evidence library.

  1. 1
    Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countriesBray F, Laversanne M, Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, Soerjomataram I, et al · CA Cancer J Clin · 2024;74:229-263
    Study cardDOIPubMed Back to text
  2. 2
    Screening for Prostate Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation StatementUS Preventive Services Task Force; Grossman DC, Curry SJ, Owens DK, Bibbins-Domingo K, Caughey AB, et al · JAMA · 2018;319:1901-1913
    Study cardDOIPubMed Back to text: 1 2 3
  3. 3
    Prostate Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient VersionNational Cancer Institute · cancer.gov
    Source Back to text: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
  4. 4
    EAU-EANM-ESTRO-ESUR-ISUP-SIOG Guidelines on Prostate Cancer—2026 Update. Part I: Screening, Diagnosis, and Local Treatment with Curative IntentCornford P, van den Bergh RCN, Briers E, Chiu P, Eberli D, Epure A, et al · Eur Urol · 2026;90:254-269
    Study cardDOIPubMed Back to text: 1 2
  5. 5
    MRI-Targeted or Standard Biopsy for Prostate-Cancer DiagnosisKasivisvanathan V, Rannikko AS, Borghi M, Panebianco V, Mynderse LA, Vaarala MH, et al · N Engl J Med · 2018;378:1767-1777
    Study cardDOIPubMed Back to text: 1 2
  6. 6
    Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) TestNational Cancer Institute · cancer.gov
    Source Back to text
  7. 7
    Prostate-specific membrane antigen PET-CT in patients with high-risk prostate cancer before curative-intent surgery or radiotherapy (proPSMA): a prospective, randomised, multicentre studyHofman MS, Lawrentschuk N, Francis RJ, Tang C, Vela I, Thomas P, et al · Lancet · 2020;395:1208-1216
    Study cardDOIPubMed Back to text

This page is based on reputable scientific sources and was last updated on 28 October 2026. The content of this website is for educational and informational purposes only and does not replace consultation, diagnosis or treatment by a specialist physician. Consult your treating physician about any treatment decision.

Printed from the website; the full and up-to-date version: https://drdabiri.com/en/questions/symptoms-of-prostate-cancer/

Related pages

19 October 2026 Does a high PSA mean prostate cancer? Not necessarily. Benign enlargement and inflammation of the prostate also raise PSA, and only about 1 in 4 men who have a biopsy because of a high PSA have cancer. 19 October 2026 Is prostate cancer curable? Yes; prostate cancer that has stayed in the prostate is almost always cured or controlled for years, and almost all patients are alive after 5 years. Spread disease is usually controlled, not cured. 19 October 2026 What is a tumour marker and when is it useful? A tumour marker is a substance in the blood or tissue that gives information about cancer; it is most useful for following treatment and recurrence, not for check-ups in healthy people.