Prostate Cancer: Guides & Articles

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men, and early on it usually causes no symptoms at all. So waiting until you feel something isn't a plan. Knowing your risk and getting checked is. This page is for information only. Talk to a healthcare provider about any concerns with your health.

prostate cancer symptoms

Start Here · The Complete Guide

Prostate Cancer Symptoms: Early Signs, Risk Factors, and When to Get Checked

Most prostate cancer symptoms show up late, and the early ones look like something else. Here’s what to watch for, who’s at risk, and when to get checked.

8 min read

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More on Prostate Cancer

psa test

Article

Your PSA Test, Explained: What Your Prostate Numbers Actually Mean

A PSA test result isn’t a diagnosis. Here’s what the numbers mean, what counts as normal by age, and when a high reading is actually worth worrying about.  

8 min read

prostate cancer and sex

Article

Prostate Cancer and Sex: What the Research Says About Pleasure and Risk

Does sex prevent prostate cancer, can a partner catch it, and what happens after treatment? The research on prostate cancer and sex, without the hedging.

7 min read

How To Check for Prostate Cancer at Home: What To Know

Article

How To Check for Prostate Cancer at Home: What To Know

Are you curious about how to check for prostate cancer at home? Keep reading to get the information you need to check your prostate.

8 min read

Warning Signs of Prostate Cancer

Article

What Are the 5 Warning Signs of Prostate Cancer?

Have questions or concerns around testing for prostate issues? Let’s discuss some of the most common warning signs of prostate cancer.

8 min read

Man in a suit speaking into a microphone at a late-night talk show desk

Article

8 Celebrities With Prostate Cancer Using Their Voice to Save Lives

Eight celebrities with prostate cancer who went public, what each one’s diagnosis looked like, and the measurable effect their honesty had on other men.  

8 min read

Prostate Cancer FAQs

What are the early signs of prostate cancer?

Usually there aren't any. When symptoms do show up, they can include trouble peeing, a weak stream, blood in your urine or semen, trouble getting erections, or pain in your hips or lower back. An enlarged prostate or an infection causes these more often than cancer does, but any of them is worth getting checked.

When should I get screened?

The American Cancer Society says to start the conversation with your doctor at 50 if you're at average risk. Start at 45 if you're Black or your father or brother was diagnosed before 65. Start at 40 if more than one close relative was diagnosed young. Screening usually starts with a PSA blood test.

Can I check for prostate cancer at home?

Yes, but not reliably. You can't feel your own prostate well enough to find a lump. There are at-home PSA blood test kits, but a doctor still has to interpret the result, and a high number has plenty of causes besides cancer.

Can you still have sex after prostate cancer treatment?

Yes, and plenty of guys do. Surgery and radiation can change erections and ejaculation, and after a prostatectomy orgasms are usually "dry" (no fluid comes out). Recovery takes time, and your care team can help with what's available.