Everyone urinates, but if you notice you need to go more than usual, you could have an underlying condition causing this. For men, excessive urination can be related to a prostate condition such as an enlarged prostate or a bladder infection. But is frequent urination a sign of prostate cancer?
Typically, most men urinate seven to eight times each day, including up to two times at night. Many men detect increased urination by having to use the restroom more frequently at night. Men in their forties and fifties may urinate only once a night, or not at all. Men above age fifty may need to urinate twice a night, with possible frequency increasing with age. These are just averages, and urination habits may look different for you.
Some signs of frequent urination include having to go as often as once every 30-60 minutes, and sometimes, you may only pass a small amount of urine, still feeling like you need to go when you’re done.
Before you start to worry, think about:
If you suddenly realize you are taking more toilet breaks during the day without changing your habits, or if your sleep is affected due to waking up to urinate at night, you should contact your doctor.
Quite often, the cause of frequent urination is a non-cancerous condition such as:
To assist your physician in determining the cause of your frequent urination, try to provide information for the following questions:
The more information you can give your doctor, the easier it will be to make an accurate diagnosis and provide treatment if necessary.
Men with prostate cancer may not always experience symptoms. However, when they appear, they are typically associated with the urinary system, including:
While these symptoms are not always associated with prostate cancer, it's best not to ignore them. Some prostate cancer patients may also have pain around the prostate while sitting, new pain or swelling in the lower body (especially in the back or hips), or unusual bowel habits. Some men experience pain or burning during ejaculation, and some men even experience an increased sensation to urinate because of a tumor pressing against their bladder or urethra.
To determine the cause, your doctor will likely request a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test, a urine culture, a digital rectal exam (DRE), and possibly an MRI.
If cancer is suspected, your urologist will recommend a prostate biopsy. This is the only sure way to know if cancer is in the prostate. A pathologist examines the tissue samples under a microscope to see if they look different from normal, healthy cells. If cancer cells are found, the pathology report will show how much cancer is present and whether it is expected to grow slowly or quickly. Most prostate cancers are slow-growing, making watchful waiting an option for early-stage prostate cancer. However, if you experience symptoms, the cancer may be more advanced, and treatment may need to begin soon.
A personalized treatment plan can be developed by an oncologist who will consider several factors, such as your age, stage of cancer, and lifestyle. Surgery is not always a part of the plan. In fact, many men can avoid surgery to remove part or all of the prostate by using other cancer treatments such as radiation therapy and hormone therapy. For men whose prostate cancer has returned after previous therapy, there are new, leading-edge treatment options available.
The risk of prostate cancer rises with age, particularly after 65. If your father or brother has had prostate cancer, you may be more likely to develop it yourself. If you are concerned about your risk, talk to your doctor about prostate cancer screening options, and be sure you start screening no later than age 50.
More from our blog: When Should Men Get a Prostate Cancer Screening?
If you or a loved one was diagnosed with prostate cancer, the prostate cancer specialists at Virginia Oncology Associates will guide you through a personalized treatment plan. There are numerous treatment options for prostate cancer patients at any stage, including leading-edge treatments for patients diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer.
To learn more about your options, request an initial consultation or a second opinion at one of our cancer centers in Hampton Roads or Eastern North Carolina. Virginia Oncology Associates is located in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Hampton, Newport News, Williamsburg, Chesapeake, Suffolk (Obici and Harbour View), and Elizabeth City, NC.