One of the biggest problems facing men with prostate illness, specifically cancer, is that symptoms are quite mild (or nonexistent) until it is in an advanced stage.

The most common screening mechanism is through a prostate specific antigen blood test, or PSA for short, which can often pick up on potential problems before symptoms are present. however, many men do not elect to have the test performed, which leaves them vulnerable to damaging, and potentially deadly, prostate illness.

One of the earliest signs of prostate problems is the need to urinate frequently, maintaining a constant flow of urine, and/or difficulty beginning the urination process. Pain may also be present, including blood in the urine.

The sexual experience may be dampened as well, and you may experience difficulty obtaining or maintaining an erection. Ejaculation may be painful, and semen may contain blood.

If any of the above symptoms appear, it would be quite evident that a prostate problem is at hand, though it does not necessarily signify any type of cancer. An enlargement of the prostate gland, a medical condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), could be the instigating factor, and is easily treatable. however, even with this benign condition, treatment can become more problematic if overly ignored.

On the other hand, these problems could be symptomatic of prostate cancer. if diagnosed in its early stages, this condition has a very high treatment success rate. however, once in the more advanced stages, after the cancer spreads beyond the prostate gland itself, it becomes increasingly difficult to manage. to be perfectly honest, once it moves past this threshold, a cure may not be possible, and the only treatment options available would be to slow its progression and hopefully control the symptoms.

The mildness of prostate troubles, at least at their onset, are often overlooked, since they typically don’t affect your day-to-day life, and are often attributed to aging. however, prostate cancer kills tens of thousands of men every year, which is entirely preventable if detected in its early stages. if you are currently encountering any of these symptoms or are 40 years of age or older, talk to your doctor about running a prostate screen during your next routine examination. It may be simple, but it also may save your life.