Prostate Cancer: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

What is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer happens when cells in the prostate gland grow out of control. The prostate is a small gland in the male reproductive system. It's located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It makes fluid that helps carry sperm.

Most prostate cancers grow slowly, but some can spread quickly. Talk to your health care provider about whether prostate cancer screening is right for you.²

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer often causes no symptoms in its early stages. When symptoms do appear, they may include:³

• Trouble starting or stopping urination
• Weak or interrupted urine flow
• Frequent urination, especially at night
• Pain or burning while urinating
• Blood in urine or semen
• Pain in the back, hips, or pelvis that lasts a long time
• Painful ejaculation

These symptoms can also be caused by other conditions, such as an enlarged prostate. It's important to see a doctor for testing.³

Who is more likely to have prostate cancer?

Risk factors include:⁴

• Race: African American people are more likely to have prostate cancer. Those in this group should talk to their health care provider about early screening.
• Age: Most cases occur in people over 65.
• Family history: Having a close relative with prostate cancer increases risk.
• Genetics: Inherited changes in genes like BRCA1 and BRCA2 can raise risk.

Other factors that may raise your risk include obesity, smoking or tobacco use, and a diet high in fat and dairy.⁴

Who should get screened for prostate cancer?

There is no single recommendation for prostate cancer screening. Instead, this should be a decision you make with your health care provider. Make sure to discuss if prostate cancer screening is right for you.

How is prostate cancer diagnosed?

Typically a provider will first order a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. This is a first-line screening test. It measures PSA levels, which can be higher in those with prostate cancer.⁵

If there is a concern, a doctor may recommend one or more additional tests to confirm diagnosis:⁵

• Prostate biopsy: Tissue samples are checked for cancer cells.
• Imaging tests: MRI or ultrasound may help locate cancer.
• Digital rectal exam (DRE): A doctor feels the prostate for lumps. This is typically not required or standard as part of screening.

How do you treat prostate cancer?

Treatment depends on the stage and type of cancer:⁶

• Active surveillance or watchful waiting: For slow-growing cancers, your doctor may recommend watching it closely with regular tests instead of treating it right away.
• Surgery: This involves removing the prostate (also called a prostatectomy).
• Radiation therapy: External or internal radiation to kill cancer cells.
• Hormone therapy: Blocks hormones that cause cancer cells to grow and spread.

Additional treatments may include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or biological therapy. Your doctor will tailor a treatment plan specific to how aggressive your type of prostate cancer is.⁶

What You Can Do

Prostate cancer is common but often treatable, especially when found early. Regular checkups and talking with your doctor about screening can help catch it before it spreads.

Knowing the symptoms, risks, and treatment options can help you make informed decisions about your health. You should talk with your health care provider about early detection. Together, you can weigh the risks and benefits of screenings based on your own risk factors.

Prostate Cancer FAQs

What causes prostate cancer?

Doctors do not know the exact cause of prostate cancer. It begins when changes occur in the DNA of prostate cells. These changes can be inherited or happen during a person’s lifetime. Factors such as age, race, and family history increase risk.¹

Can prostate cancer cause other issues?

Complications can include cancer spreading to bones or other organs, urinary incontinence, or erectile dysfunction.¹

Is prostate cancer curable?

Yes. When caught and treated early, many people with prostate cancer are cured. Your chances of survival depend on if the cancer spread as well as your other risk factors.⁷

¹ Prostate Cancer: Symptoms and Causes, Mayo Clinic, February 20, 2026 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prostate-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20353087

² American Cancer Society Recommendations for Prostate Cancer Early Detection, American Cancer Society, November 22, 2023, https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/acs-recommendations.html

³ Symptoms of Prostate Cancer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, February 11, 2025, https://www.cdc.gov/prostate-cancer/symptoms/index.html

⁴ Prostate Cancer Risk Factors, American Cancer Society, November 22, 2023, https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html

⁵ Tests to Diagnose and Stage Prostate Cancer, American Cancer Society, March 21, 2025 https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/how-diagnosed.html

⁶ Treatment of Prostate Cancer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, February 11, 2025, https://www.cdc.gov/prostate-cancer/treatment/index.html

⁷ Prostate Cancer: Survival Rates, Mayo Clinic, February 20, 2026, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prostate-cancer/survival-rates/gnc-20595702

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