Prostate cancer often causes no symptoms in its early stages. This is why it is important to be aware of your individual risk as well as any changes in your health.
Possible symptoms
When prostate cancer does cause symptoms, they can include changes in the way you urinate, such as:
- difficulty starting to urinate or straining to urinate
- a weak flow of urine
- stop-start urination
- needing to urinate more urgently or more often
- feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully
- needing to urinate during the night
Other possible symptoms can include:
- problems getting or keeping an erection
- blood in your urine or semen
- unexplained weight loss
- pain in the lower back, hips or pelvis, which can sometimes occur with advanced prostate cancer
These symptoms do not necessarily mean cancer
Urinary symptoms are common and are often caused by conditions other than prostate cancer, particularly benign enlargement of the prostate. However, you should speak to your GP if symptoms are new, changing, getting worse or do not feel normal for you.
Read NHS information about prostate cancer symptoms.
What if I have no symptoms?
Most people with early prostate cancer do not have symptoms. If you are concerned about your risk because of your age, family history, ethnicity or an inherited gene change, you can speak to your GP even if you feel well.
You may wish to discuss a PSA blood test with your GP. A PSA test cannot tell you on its own whether you have prostate cancer, and there are benefits and limitations to having the test. Your GP can help you understand these before you decide whether testing is right for you.
Read NHS information about the PSA test.
What happens if my GP is concerned?
Your GP will consider your symptoms and individual risk. They may discuss a PSA blood test and other checks with you. If your results suggest that further investigation is needed, you may be referred to a specialist for tests such as an MRI scan and, when appropriate, a biopsy.
For more information about these investigations, see our Tests Available page.
This information is intended to help you understand possible prostate cancer symptoms and does not replace advice from your GP, urologist or specialist cancer team.