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9. Numbness and Swelling in the Legs
Although numbness and swelling is not a common sign, it’s alarming in patients with suspected prostate cancer. The growth of malignant tumors is faster and more aggressive than benign tumors. They push aside any other structure to make their way and grow even bigger. In this process, they can compress the surrounding structures.
The most commonly affected structures are the bladder, the urethra, and the rectum, but if the prostate cancer is big enough, it can start affecting the nerves and vascular structures as well. A nerve compression would usually cause pain, numbness, tingling, or an electrical sensation to the affected area. The surrounding nerves in the pelvic area go to the pelvic region or the legs. Hence, individuals with advanced prostate cancer may experience sensations of pain or tingling in these body areas.
In some cases, patients would also report swelling in the legs or the pelvic area. This happens because the tumor causes compression to the veins and lymphatic vessels, and there’s not enough fluid returning to the blood and lymphatic fluid. Thus, the fluids start leaking into the surrounding tissues, causing edema and swelling.
