Prostate Cancer: Symptoms and Signs

Approved by the Cancer.Net Editorial Board, 12/2022

ON THIS PAGE: You will find out more about changes and other things that can signal a problem that may need medical care. Use the menu to see other pages.

Symptoms are changes that you can feel in your body. Signs are changes in something measured, like by taking your blood pressure or doing a lab test. Together, symptoms and signs can help describe a medical problem. While most prostate cancer does not cause any symptoms, the symptoms and signs of prostate cancer may include:

  • Frequent urination

  • Weak or interrupted urine flow or the need to strain to empty the bladder

  • The urge to urinate frequently at night

  • Blood in the urine

  • New onset of erectile dysfunction

  • Pain or burning during urination, which is much less common

  • Discomfort or pain when sitting, caused by an enlarged prostate

Other noncancerous conditions of the prostate, such as benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) or an enlarged prostate, can cause similar symptoms. Or, the cause of a symptom or sign may be another medical condition that is also not related to cancer. Urinary symptoms also can be caused by an infection of the bladder or other conditions.

If cancer has spread outside of the prostate gland, symptoms and signs may include:

  • Pain in the back, hips, thighs, shoulders, or other bones

  • Swelling or fluid buildup in the legs or feet

  • Unexplained weight loss

  • Fatigue

  • Change in bowel habits

If you are concerned about any changes you experience, please talk with your doctor. Your doctor will ask how long and how often you have been experiencing the symptom(s), in addition to other questions. This is to help figure out the cause of the problem, called a diagnosis.

If cancer is diagnosed, relieving symptoms remains an important part of cancer care and treatment. Managing symptoms may be called "palliative care" or "supportive care." It is often started soon after diagnosis and continued throughout treatment. Be sure to talk with your health care team about the symptoms you experience, including any new symptoms or a change in symptoms.

The next section in this guide is Diagnosis. It explains what tests may be needed to learn more about the cause of the symptoms. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.