The fear of having prostate cancer can be devastating to men. However, it is most successfully treated when found early. Consider these statistics from the American Cancer Society: Nearly 60 percent of all prostate cancers are discovered while they are still localized (confined to the prostate). The five-year survival rate for men diagnosed with prostate tumors discovered at this stage is 100 percent. In the past 20 years, the survival rate for all stages has risen due to early detection and treatment.

Early prostate cancer may not present any symptoms and can only be found with regular prostate examinations by your physician. Do not let fear and anxiety keep you from having the tests you need. These tests can often detect, or help rule out, prostate cancer. Follow-up visits with your physician are extremely important if you have had an unusual DRE (digital rectal exam), or if your PSA (prostate-specific antigen) level is high. Your physician may order additional tests or suggest repeating the PSA tests.

Symptoms and Treatment

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer? There are usually no specific signs or symptoms of early prostate cancer - which is why prostate screening is so important. An annual physical examination, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, and digital rectal exam (DRE) provide the best chance of identifying prostate cancer in it earliest stages. The following are the most common symptoms of prostate cancer. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

• weak or interrupted flow of urine urinating often (especially at night)
• difficulty urinating or holding back urine
• inability to urinate
• pain or burning when urinating
• blood in the urine or semen
• nagging pain in the back, hips, or pelvis
• difficulty having an erection

The symptoms of prostate cancer may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis. As a man gets older, his prostate may grow bigger and obstruct the flow of urine, or interfere with sexual function. An enlarged prostate gland - a condition called benign prostate hyperplasia - may require treatment with medicine or surgery to relieve symptoms. This common benign prostate condition, which is not cancer, can cause many of the same symptoms as prostate cancer.