In the early stages of prostate cancer, there are usually no symptoms. As such, early prostate cancer is usually diagnosed following health screening, which usually involves blood tests. One of the blood tests can detect a protein called Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) and this protein is produced by prostate cells. Both normal or cancerous prostate cells produce this protein. Hence, a high level of PSA does not necessarily imply the presence of prostate cancer. There is an ongoing debate as to the merits of screening for prostate cancer and it is best to discuss this with the attending doctor first.

Besides PSA, another way prostate cancer can be screened is by feeling the prostate. The prostate, which is located below the bladder and in front of the rectum, can be felt by a doctor inserting a finger into the anus / rectum. The prostate may feel hard or nodular in cases of prostate cancer. Oftentimes, the prostate feels normal even in the presence of prostate cancer.

In the event of detecting a nodule in the prostate and / or raised PSA level, a prostate biopsy may be recommended. Prostate biopsy involves retrieving some tissue from the prostate and it is a procedure that can be done in the clinic under local anaesthesia. The tissue is then sent to the pathologist, a specialist who reviews tissues under microscopy.

Upon confirmation of the diagnosis of prostate cancer, the next step is to stage the cancer. Prostate cancer can be broadly divided into cancer that’s still confined to the prostate gland or cancer that has spread outside the prostate and / or to another part of the body, commonly the bones.

Treatment options vary depending on the stage of the cancer. For cancer confined to the prostate gland, treatment options include observation (also known as active surveillance), irradiation therapy, focal therapy or surgery. There are different types of surgery including robotic surgery.

Treatment for cancer that has spread usually involves the use of hormones, which have been shown to control prostate cancer cells. This is different from chemotherapy and the hormones can be administered via injection into the fat beneath the skin.

As there are many treatment options for prostate cancer, it is best to discuss with your doctor.

In the early stages of prostate cancer, there are usually no symptoms. Many men confuse symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia with prostate cancer. Men with benign prostatic hyperplasia may have slow urinary flow, dribbling, frequent and nighttime urination, urge to pass urine, etc. On the other hand, these symptoms are usually not present in early stages of prostate cancer.

As such, early prostate cancer is usually diagnosed following health screening, which usually involves blood tests. One of the blood tests can detect a protein called Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) and this protein is produced by prostate cells. Both normal or cancerous prostate cells produce this protein. An abnormal result for PSA may or may not mean the presence of prostate cancer. There is an ongoing debate as to the merits of screening for prostate cancer and it is best to discuss this with the attending doctor first.

Another way prostate cancer can be screened is by palpating the prostate. The prostate, which is found below the bladder and in front of the rectum, can be felt by a doctor inserting a finger into the anus / rectum. The prostate may feel hard or nodular in cases of prostate cancer. Oftentimes, the prostate feels normal even in the presence of prostate cancer.

Abnormal PSA or nodule in the prostate does not imply prostate cancer. A prostate biopsy is needed to confirm the diagnosis. Prostate biopsy involves retrieving some tissue from the prostate and it is a procedure that can be done in the clinic. Prostate tissue is retrieved from the rectum under ultrasound guidance. The tissue is then sent to the pathologist, a specialist who reviews tissues, for confirmation.

Treatment for prostate cancer depends on the stage of the disease, which can be broadly divided into prostate cancer that’s still confined to the prostate or cancer that has spread outside the prostate or to another part of the body, commonly the bones. Treatment for organ-confined prostate cancer include surgery, to remove the prostate gland, or radiation therapy or a combination of both or observation. Treatment for cancer that has spread usually involves the use of hormones, which can be administered via injection therapy. There are other ways to treat prostate cancer and it is best to discuss the options with the doctor.

These urinary problems can either be due to the bladder or bladder outlet (tube for urine to flow from the bladder and out of the body) or both.  To distinguish between the two, urodynamic study – a specialised test to evaluate the functions of the bladder – is helpful. Research on urodyanmic studies in males has shown that for most men above 50 years old, the cause is usually due to the bladder outlet and specifically, the prostate.

The prostate is an organ found only in men and is located below the bladder, forming part of the bladder outlet.  The prostate produces a liquid which mixes with sperms to form semen.  For many men, with increasing age, the cells in the prostate increases in number and this may lead to a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is common and can result in poor urinary flow, dribbling of urine, the need to strain, sense of remnant urine in the bladder despite emptying the bladder, waking up in the middle of the night to void, needing to rush to the toilet, etc.  A troublesome consequence is the inability to pass urine.

Treatment for benign prostate hyperplasia include medications and surgery.  For surgery,  it involves removing most part of the prostate and this can be accomplished via surgical instruments that is passed into the urine tube.

As for medications, there are many different types available.  For example, one type causes the prostate to shrink and another relaxes the muscles around the neck of the bladder.  The underlying treatment intent is to widen the urine tube, thereby facilitating urinary flow.

Younger men may experience similar symptoms but the cause may not be due to the benign prostatic hyperplasia.  Other causes need to be considered and these include urethral strictures (narrowing of the urine tube) or primary bladder neck dysfunction.  These require more specialised evaluation such as urethrogram and video urodynamic studies.

Whether young or old, many men are embarassed to talk about it, either with relatives or close friends or even with their spouses.  Many incorrectly attribute their urinary symptoms to having a weak bladder or simply dismiss it as part of the ageing process.  As a result, many suffer in silence for months or years.  Medical therapy is available and it is beneficial for men with urinary problems to be properly evaluated and treated.