The prostate is a gland roughly the same size as a walnut found between the penis and the bladder.
As part of the male reproductive system its main function is to produce the fluid that makes semen when mixed with sperm.
Prostate cancer occurs when abnormal cells start to grow in an uncontrolled way in the prostate.
Quite often this will not cause any symptoms in the early stages.
Typically, symptoms only appear when the prostate becomes large enough to impact the urethra.
Therefore, if you notice any symptoms it is important to get them checked out.
Doctor Maz Alsaffar, digital GP lead at Babylon Health, shared five signs that could signal prostate cancer.
“Often prostate cancer does not present any symptoms, however when symptoms do occur, they may include the following,” he told Express.co.uk.
Blood in the urine or semen
He said: “Blood in the urine or semen can be quite alarming.
“In males, it is unusual to notice blood in the urine, therefore getting an urgent assessment with a doctor is vital to rule out any serious causes.”
Erectile dysfunction
“This can sometimes occur in the advanced stages of prostate cancer,” he explained.
“A sudden onset of erectile dysfunction issues can be quite worrying.
“It is important to highlight this to a doctor to ensure there are no worrying causes.”
General tiredness and fatigue
Dr Alsaffar said: “This is a rather vague symptom. However, if you feel that you are more tired than usual, it is important to explore this further with a doctor alongside other potential symptoms of prostate cancer.”
Unexplained weight loss
He continued: “Weight loss can be a non-specific symptom of cancer.
“However, it is critical to highlight this to a doctor if you feel that it is not linked to changes to your diet and exercise routine.”
Back and limb pain
“It is important to note that back or bone pain alone is not an immediate sign of prostate cancer,” he added.
“However, it is often related to the advanced stages of prostate cancer along with the other symptoms described above.”
The NHS also lists an increased need to urinate, straining while you urinate and a feeling that your bladder has not fully emptied as possible symptoms of the disease.
If you experience any symptoms of prostate cancer you should speak to your GP.
They might want to conduct a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, scan or even biopsy to further check for cancer.
