A Checklist

Often, early stage prostate cancer does not cause any symptoms. But, in some cases, men with prostate cancer may experience any of the following problems:

- A need to urinate frequently, especially at night
- Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine
- Weak or interrupted flow of urine
- Painful or burning urination
- Difficulty in having an erection
- Painful ejaculation
- Blood in urine or semen, or
- Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs.

You should speak with your doctor immediately if you have experienced any of the above symptoms or if you are a man over 50 who has not had a recent prostate cancer screening. If you have a family history of prostate cancer, or are an African-American male, you should consider screening at age 45. A few men might want screening at an even earlier age.

Source: ProstateCancerFoundation.org