The human body is made up of cells that divide, periodically, to replace the old or dead to maintain the integrity of internal organs. This process requires a balance that is regulated by control mechanisms that tell the cell when it should divide. When these control mechanisms are altered, an uncontrolled division of cells can occur, the consequence of which is their abnormal proliferation, giving rise to a tumour.
If the cells that form the tumor can invade surrounding tissues and organs (infiltration) or move to other parts of the body (metastasis) it is called a cancer or malignant tumor. When this abnormal proliferation of malignant cells occurs in the prostate we are faced with prostate cancer.
EARLY prostate cancer tends to have no or minimal symptoms.
The main symptoms of ADVANCED prostate cancer are:
- Difficulty to start urination and decrease the strength and flow of urine.
- Feeling of not having completely emptied the bladder.
- Having to urinate frequently (every two hours) and having to get up several times at night to urinate.
- Postmictional drip or incontinence.
- Urinary urgency.
- Sudden inability to urinate.
- Weight loss
- Fatigue