Patient/caregiver was instructed upon signs and symptoms of prostate cancer as follows:
Prostate is a gland in males that surrounds the urethra and located between the urinary bladder and penis. For reasons unclear, prostate gland in some individuals can develop cancerous growths. Prostate cancers can be small and benign and not present with any symptoms, especially in the initial stages. As the cancer grows bigger and if it spreads to other body parts, prostate cancer can present with severe symptoms. As prostate surrounds the urethra, bigger cancer mass in the prostate can press onto and narrow/close the urethra, which results in the following signs and symptoms –
- Weak stream of urine and reduced urine output volume: Narrowing down of urethra in individuals with prostate cancer can pose difficulty to initiate urination and pass urine at a constant pace. This leads to weak urine stream and reduced volume of urine output during urination.
- Interrupted urine flow: Patients can present with interrupted flow of urine that often stops and starts back.
- Painful urination: Inhibition to flow of urine can result in painful urination or dysuria.
- Blood in urine and semen: Damage to the prostate gland due to cancer can result in bleeding that reflects in and semen, giving them a pinkish-red or bright red color.
- Pain & discomfort: Depending on the aggressiveness of cancer, pain with prostate cancer can vary from mild discomfort to very severe & incapacitating.
- Fatigue & loss of appetite: In general, cancer diagnosis can compromise an individual’s metabolism, which is body’s natural ability to process different foods and convert into calorie energy they yield. Compromised metabolism in individuals with prostate cancer can lead to impaired processing of food, lack of energy & fatigue, and loss of appetite.
