What are the late-stage symptoms of prostate cancer?

Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
Updated on June 12, 2025
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Prostate cancer is a common malignant tumor in the urinary system. The late-stage symptoms of prostate cancer include the following aspects: Many patients experience urinary symptoms such as frequent urination, urgent urination, and painful urination due to tumor obstruction. Additionally, some patients experience slow urination, difficulty urinating, and even severe urinary retention. A few patients may have painless or painful hematuria. Some patients, due to tumor compression or invasion, experience enlargement and pain of the inguinal lymph nodes, as well as swelling of the lower limbs. Some patients develop bone metastases, clinically manifesting as pain, reduced sensation, or paralysis. Some patients with prostate cancer develop pulmonary metastases, leading to clinical respiratory symptoms such as cough, chest tightness, breathlessness, and difficulty breathing.

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Written by Liu Liang
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Is prostate cancer radiotherapy painful?

Prostate cancer radiotherapy involves high doses of radiation, which typically results in related side effects. However, the severity of these side effects varies from patient to patient depending on individual factors such as their physical constitution. Therefore, clinically, some patients may experience severe symptoms, while others may have milder symptoms, indicating significant individual differences. Common side effects of radiotherapy include radiation cystitis, characterized by frequent urination, urgency, and possibly hematuria. Radiation proctitis is also common, presenting symptoms such as a sensation of heaviness around the anus and diarrhea. Additionally, bone marrow suppression, manifesting as a decrease in white blood cells and platelets, is another side effect.

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Written by Zhou Zi Hua
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The difference between benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer.

Prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer are sometimes very difficult to distinguish clinically, as both diseases occur in elderly men, can cause lower urinary tract symptoms, and lead to elevated PSA levels. However, prostatic hyperplasia generally has a longer medical history, whereas prostate cancer has a shorter history and progresses more quickly. During a digital rectal exam for prostatic hyperplasia, the gland appears enlarged and the surface is smooth. In contrast, during a prostate exam, the gland may show irregular enlargement, a rough surface, and the tumor feels firm. When these two are difficult to distinguish, considering a prostate biopsy may be advisable.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Can prostate cancer be contagious?

Prostate cancer is non-contagious; it is a non-infectious malignant tumor, and it generally does not transmit to others, meaning there is no risk of contagion. Thus, when caring for patients with malignant tumors, including those with prostate cancer, there is no need to worry about contagion. Clinically, many family members also inquire about this issue, concerned about the possibility of infection. Malignant tumors are non-infectious. Infectious diseases refer to conditions such as chronic hepatitis B and tuberculosis, among other contagious diseases. Malignant tumors are not contagious.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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Is prostate cancer stage T2 considered early or mid-stage?

Prostate cancer stage T2 is considered early or intermediate, but it is also necessary to understand the patient's N and M status. If the patient is at stage T2, and both N and M are at stage 0, then it is considered early-stage prostate cancer. If the primary lesion is at stage T2, but N1 is present and there is no metastasis (M), then the patient is considered to have intermediate-stage prostate cancer. If the primary lesion is at stage T2, but there is metastasis in N and M, then the patient's clinical stage is considered advanced. The clinical staging of prostate cancer not only requires understanding of the primary lesion T, but also involves the regional lymph nodes N and distant metastasis M.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Can prostate cancer be detected by color ultrasound?

Ultrasound is also a method for screening prostate cancer, but it is generally combined with Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) for a comprehensive consideration in prostate cancer screening. If prostate nodules are found during a prostate color Doppler ultrasound, the differentiation between prostate cancer and benign prostatic nodules can be aided by the variations in internal echoes, but this is only a reference and cannot be 100% certain. Thus, in clinical practice, it is also combined with PSA for a comprehensive evaluation. Generally, a PSA greater than 10 suggests a higher likelihood of malignancy. The diagnosis of prostate cancer requires a biopsy to confirm the pathology.