Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men over 50 — and one where symptoms are easy to dismiss as “just ageing.” Knowing what to watch for, and when to get checked, can make the difference between catching it early and catching it late.

Symptoms men tend to ignore

Early prostate cancer often causes no symptoms at all. When symptoms do appear, they are easy to attribute to an enlarging prostate (which is usually benign):

  • Needing to urinate more often, especially at night
  • Difficulty starting or a weak urine stream
  • A feeling of not emptying the bladder fully
  • Blood in the urine or semen
  • New pain in the back, hips or pelvis (in advanced disease)

Most urinary symptoms in older men are due to benign enlargement — but they should be evaluated rather than assumed.

Getting checked

Evaluation typically involves a PSA blood test, a clinical examination, and, where indicated, imaging and a biopsy. PSA is a useful tool but needs expert interpretation — a raised value does not always mean cancer, and the decision to test and how to act on it should be individualised. Men over 50, or over 45 with a family history, should discuss it with their doctor.

The trap with prostate cancer is assuming that urinary symptoms after 50 are just age. Often they are — but the only way to know is to get checked, not to guess.

How prostate cancer is treated

Many prostate cancers grow slowly, and some are safely monitored (active surveillance) rather than treated immediately. When treatment is needed, options include surgery, radiation, and — because prostate cancer is driven by testosterone — hormonal therapy (androgen deprivation), sometimes with chemotherapy in advanced disease. Precision-medicine and genomic testing increasingly guide decisions. A second opinion is especially valuable here, given how much the right choice depends on the individual.

Frequently asked questions

Does a raised PSA mean I have cancer?
Not necessarily. PSA can rise for benign reasons; it needs expert interpretation and sometimes further tests.

Does every prostate cancer need treatment?
No. Some slow-growing cancers are safely monitored with active surveillance.

When should I get checked?
Discuss PSA testing from around age 50, or 45 with a family history.

Is prostate cancer curable?
Localised prostate cancer is often curable, and even advanced disease is very treatable.

Related reading: Hormonal Therapy · Chemotherapy · Precision Medicine · Second Opinion for Cancer · Patient Support

Further reading:

National Cancer Institute — Prostate Cancer

Reviewed by Dr. Harish Kancharla
DM (Medical Oncology), AIIMS, New Delhi · MD (Internal Medicine), PGIMER, Chandigarh
Senior Consultant – Medical Oncology & Hemato-Oncology, Yashoda Hospitals, Somajiguda, Hyderabad
Telangana State Medical Council Registration No. 77186
Last reviewed: August 2026

This article is general information, not personal medical advice. Cancer decisions depend on your individual diagnosis, stage, test results and overall health. Please see our Medical Disclaimer.