Prostate cancer cases risk late detection due to misleading urinary focus
Despite no evidence of a link between urinary symptoms and prostate cancer, national guidelines, health advice and public health campaigns continue to promote this link. In a review published today in BMC Medicine, Cambridge researchers argue that not only is this unhelpful, but it may even deter men from coming forward for early testing and detection of a potentially treatable cancer.
“When most people think of the symptoms of prostate cancer, they think of problems with peeing or needing to pee more frequently, particularly during the night,” said Vincent Gnanapragasam, Professor of Urology at the University of Cambridge and an Honorary Consultant Urologist at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge. “This misperception has lasted for decades, despite very little evidence, and it’s potentially preventing us picking up cases at an early stage.”
I thought urinary symptoms were common with prostate cancer, especially with larger tumours. Perhaps I thought this was the case from reading on the NHS website.
I had difficulty peeing.. and eventually an enlarged testicle. That took me to the urologist, which led to a digital exam, then biopsy and ta-da! Winner! G10!
my father was diagnosed due to frequent urination and burning sensation while peeing .. pain in groin. Frequent urination although for him is because the tumour is blocking his urine track causing him to basically just trickle pee .. can barley pee at all for months. Refusing the catheter .. instead trying to battle it out to a treatment plan and then hoping that alleviates this issue
I was asymptomatic thought I had BPH for a year, trouble urinating and frequent urination. Almost ended up with a Urolift until the doc checked my PSA which was at 11 at the time. He still wanted to do the Urolift even though it was more the effects of the tumor pressing against the urethra than anything. Quite the urologist, never returned to him.
My dad had BPH in his early 60s which was diagnosed due to his frequent night-time peeing and was fixed with a TURP but he had a lot of trouble after the op. I started getting similar symptoms and (wrongly) assumed I had the same thing so self-administered a supplement (Prostasan) to alleviate the symptoms - which it did for around 2 years during Covid lockdowns. I noticed it was getting worse this year and the flow rate was slowing so I went for a check-up and realised I'd been a complete idiot to leave it so long!
I had urinary symptoms before diagnosis, I had trouble urinating and frequency. Also had pain in the groin area and pain after sex.
My family doctor tried to treat me with antibiotics for the prostate.
A year later finally got to see a urologist and we got the cancer diagnosis. As it turned out I had a very enlarged prostate that scored 4+5 after the biopsy. The enlarged prostate was giving me all the problems and I should have acted sooner. I had no idea what I was dealing with.
Hello, urinary problems are a symptom of "something" going on. My first thought would be to get a physical. hopefully, the MD would suggest a urologic appointment It is there a digital rectal exam, for a male, would show the sac It is not common to get up to Pee 3 or 4 times a night, no matter how old. For me, I have kidney problems which are causing me to pee 2 or 3 times a night. Thank goodness we have 2 bathrooms. lol
It must be one of the possible symptoms. I started having to get up to pee a lot at night, so my doctor gave me a prescription for tamsulosine (Flowmax), and things improved. But a year later I was diagnosed with Gleason 9 prostate cancer. My older brother started to have problems peeing, and he was also diagnosed with high risk prostate cancer. Doesn't sound like a misperception to me based on our experiences.
No, I was just having issues sleeping because of frequently waking up to pee, and my brother couldn't pee at all at one point. I have some discomfort now off and on while peeing in addition to frequently getting up at night, but that is because of the radiation side effects. Can't win, I guess. 🙁
No urinary issues - the urologist I was seeing at the time had me peeing into a funnel connected to a computer to measure amount, force of stream, etc. I mentioned it to my PCP because there was no discussion regarding the fact that every test saw PSA rise, but only slightly. He laughed and said let's look somewhere else - new urologist, review/DRE/PSA test - Biopsy ordered - Gleason 9, went with RP - stage 3a, 1 lymph node showed activity - that was 4 years ago - doing great now (just finished Radiation for 1 small spot in pelvic area a few months ago)
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