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10. Bone Pain
Patients with very severe prostate cancer would also start feeling a dull bone pain as a part of their symptoms. Bone pain associated with prostate cancer arises as a result of a very advanced phase of the disease. Once cancer cells lose their normal physiological functions, including the structures binding them to healthy tissue, they break away from the tumor and begin migrating through the blood—a process known as metastasis.
Prostate cancer metastasis often targets bone tissue, lured by substances released from bone marrow cells. Cells in the bone tissue may remain asymptomatic for an extended period, with bone pain emerging as an early symptom when symptoms manifest. It is usually worse during the night and improves with movement. This can at times be confused for arthritis.
Careful examination, physical exam, and lab tests allow the doctor to reach a correct diagnosis.
Conclusion
As you can see, some signs and symptoms of prostate cancer are the same experienced by those suffering from an enlarged prostate. Careful examination is necessary for others, and prostate cancer might not be the initial suspicion. However, having all of the symptoms at once or having a few along with a family history of prostate cancer should warn patients to look for medical attention without delay.
References
Moyer, V. A. (2012). Screening for prostate cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Annals of internal medicine, 157(2), 120-134.
Mottet, N., Bellmunt, J., Bolla, M., Briers, E., Cumberbatch, M. G., De Santis, M., … & Lam, T. B. (2017). EAU-ESTRO-SIOG guidelines on prostate cancer. Part 1: screening, diagnosis, and local treatment with curative intent. European urology, 71(4), 618-629.
Albright, F., Stephenson, R. A., Agarwal, N., Teerlink, C. C., Lowrance, W. T., Farnham, J. M., & Albright, L. A. C. (2015). Prostate cancer risk prediction based on complete prostate cancer family history. The Prostate, 75(4), 390-398.
