Early prostate cancer rarely causes symptoms. Even people diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer may have no symptoms. Difficulty passing urine is not always a symptom of prostate cancer, but you should see your doctor if you are worried or the following symptoms are ongoing:
- frequent or sudden need to urinate
- blood in the urine or semen
- a slow flow of urine
- needing to get up at night to pass urine
- feeling like your bladder is not empty after passing urine
- unexplained weight loss
- pain in bones, e.g. the neck, back, hips or pelvis.
What screening tests should I have?
Cancer screening looks for cancer in people with no symptoms. The benefit is that the cancer can be found and treated early. But benefits need to outweigh potential harm from treatment that’s not needed. Talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks of this for you.
The prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test may find fast-growing cancers that can spread to other parts of the body and would benefit from treatment. It may also find slow-growing cancers unlikely to be harmful, leading to treatment that may cause significant side effects.
Guidelines for prostate cancer recommend that, after having a discussion about the possible benefits and harms of testing with their doctor, people:
- with a family history of prostate cancer have a PSA test from age 45, and then at least every 2 years
- aged 45 and over, who are not at higher risk but are interested in their prostate health and decide to undergo testing, are offered an initial PSA test
- aged 50–69, with no symptoms or family history of prostate cancer, who decide to undergo testing, have a PSA test every 2 years
- aged 70 or over, who decide to undergo testing after talking to their doctor, have a PSA test every 2 years.
People with an elevated PSA, risk factors or symptoms may be referred for an mpMRI scan.
A PSA test, requested by your doctor, should be free. Your doctor can explain what the results mean. At-home PSA test kits may be unreliable and can’t give qualified medical advice about the results.
For more information about the best screening options for you, visit Clinical practice guidelines for PSA testing and early management of test-detected prostate cancer and see Testing for prostate cancer.
Herbal supplements claiming to reduce PSA readings may mask your true PSA and cause false test results. They are not recommended by Cancer Council.
→ READ MORE: Prostate cancer diagnosis
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Prof Declan Murphy, Consultant Urologist, Director – Genitourinary Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and The University of Melbourne, VIC; Alan Barlee, Consumer; Dr Patrick Bowden, Radiation Oncologist, Epworth Hospital, Richmond, VIC; Bob Carnaby, Consumer; Dr Megan Crumbaker, Medical Oncologist, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, NSW; Henry McGregor, Health Physiotherapist, Adelaide Men’s Health Physio, SA; Jessica Medd, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Department of Urology, Concord Repatriation General Hospital and Headway Health, NSW; Dr Gary Morrison, Shine a Light (LGBTQIA+ Cancer Support Group); Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Graham Rees, Consumer; Kerry Santoro, Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse Consultant, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, SA; Prof Phillip Stricker, Chairman, Department of Urology, St Vincent’s Private Hospital, NSW; Dr Sylvia van Dyk, Brachytherapy Lead, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC.
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