Prostate cancer
One of the commonest cancers in men, arising in the prostate gland. Many prostate cancers grow slowly and never cause harm, while some are more aggressive. It is often found through a raised PSA blood test, and there are effective treatments — as well as, for low-risk cases, careful monitoring.
What it is
Prostate cancer develops in the prostate, a small gland below the bladder that helps make semen. It is one of the most common cancers in men and becomes more frequent with age; family history and certain ancestries increase risk. A defining feature is its wide range of behaviour: many prostate cancers grow so slowly that they never cause symptoms or shorten life, while a minority are aggressive and can spread, particularly to bone. Because of this, a central theme in prostate cancer care is telling apart cancers that need treatment from those that can safely be watched. Early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms; urinary symptoms, when present, are more often due to a benign enlarged prostate (BPH). It is often first suspected because of a raised PSA blood test or a change felt on examination, and the picture is refined with free PSA, an MRI scan, and, if needed, a biopsy, which also grades how aggressive the cancer looks. Treatment is tailored to the cancer's risk and the person: options range from active surveillance (careful monitoring) for low-risk disease to surgery, radiotherapy and hormone therapy. Outcomes are generally good, especially when it is found early.
Key lab markers
- PSA — the main blood marker; a raised or rising level prompts assessment, though it is not specific to cancer.
- Free PSA (%free PSA) — helps refine a borderline PSA (a lower %free leans toward cancer).
- Digital rectal examination and MRI — assess the gland.
- Prostate biopsy — confirms the diagnosis and grades aggressiveness (Gleason score / grade group).
- Bone imaging and other scans — used to check for spread in higher-risk cases.
Symptoms
- Often none in early disease
- Difficulty passing urine, a weak or slow stream, or needing to go more often (usually from a benign enlarged prostate, but worth assessing)
- Getting up at night to urinate
- Blood in the urine or semen (uncommon)
- In advanced disease: bone pain, unintentional weight loss, or tiredness
Related symptoms
Related lab panels
When to discuss with a doctor
Prostate cancer is often picked up when a PSA blood test is raised or rising, or when an examination feels abnormal — prompting a discussion about whether further tests such as free PSA, MRI or a biopsy are worthwhile. Whether and when to test PSA is itself a personal decision, best discussed with a doctor, because it can find slow-growing cancers that might never have caused harm. New or persistent urinary symptoms, or blood in the urine or semen, should be assessed — though these are often due to a benign cause. Persistent bone pain or unexplained weight loss warrants review. Once diagnosed, care is individualised — from active surveillance to treatment — by a urology and oncology team. Mediora.AI can flag a raised or rising PSA and a low %free PSA that together prompt assessment; the diagnosis and decisions belong with your specialist.