Prostate Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Achuta Uppu, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Prostate Cancer?
A urologist, a doctor who treats the urinary tract and the male reproductive system, usually checks for prostate cancer and does the biopsy. An oncologist, a doctor who treats cancer, often helps plan treatment. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is cancer that starts in the prostate gland. The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system that lies just below the bladder. It makes fluid that is part of semen.
Prostate cancer often grows very slowly. If it does not spread to other parts of the body, it may not cause serious problems. But sometimes it grows quickly and spreads, and that kind is serious.
Symptoms
Early prostate cancer often has no symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they may include:
- A urine stream that is weak, hard to start, or starts and stops.
- Suddenly needing to urinate right away.
- Urinating often, especially at night.
- Pain or burning when urinating.
- Blood in the urine or semen.
- Pain in the lower back, hips, or pelvis that does not go away.
- Painful ejaculation.
Many of these symptoms can come from other common prostate problems, such as an enlarged prostate. When the cancer has spread, there may be bone pain or tenderness, most often in the lower back and pelvic bones. Cancer in the spine that presses on the spinal cord can cause weakness or numbness in the legs or feet, or loss of bladder or bowel control.
Causes and who gets it
Researchers do not know for sure what causes prostate cancer. They do know that it happens when there are changes in the genetic material, called DNA. Some of these changes are inherited, meaning you are born with them, and others happen during your lifetime.
Some things make prostate cancer more likely:
- Getting older. The chance goes up with age.
- Having a parent, brother, sister, or child who has or had prostate cancer.
- Being African American.
- Being exposed to Agent Orange.
- Eating a diet high in fat, especially animal fat.
- Being obese.
How doctors diagnose it
Doctors use a few tests to check for prostate cancer.
- A digital rectal exam, where the provider feels your prostate for lumps with a lubricated, gloved finger in your rectum.
- A PSA blood test. A high PSA level may be a sign of prostate cancer, but many other things can cause high PSA levels too.
A biopsy is the only way to diagnose prostate cancer. A doctor uses a hollow needle to take some prostate tissue, and the tissue is studied under a microscope for cancer cells. The biopsy result is reported as a Gleason score, and the higher the score, the more likely the cancer can spread beyond the prostate.
Treatment
Treatment usually depends on your age, your general health, and how serious the cancer is. You may have one or more of these options:
- Watchful waiting means having little or no testing, with treatment to relieve symptoms if they begin or change.
- Active surveillance means having regular tests to see if the cancer has changed.
- Surgery to remove the prostate gland may be an option if the cancer has not spread outside the prostate.
- Radiation therapy uses high energy to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing.
- Hormone therapy blocks cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow.
- Chemotherapy and immunotherapy are other options if the cancer spreads even after hormone therapy, surgery, or radiation has been tried.
Surgery, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy can affect sexual function. Problems with urine control are possible after surgery and radiation therapy. After treatment, you will be closely watched, with routine checkups that include PSA blood tests, to make sure the cancer does not spread.
When to see a doctor
Talk with your health care provider about your prostate health if you have symptoms that could be prostate cancer, such as blood in your urine or semen or pain in your lower back, hips, or pelvis that does not go away. Also talk with your provider if you have a high risk or had a screening test that suggests cancer. Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have sudden weakness or numbness in your legs or feet, or you lose control of your bladder or bowels.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. Either can talk through your risks and symptoms, help arrange first tests, refer you to a urologist, and help coordinate your care and follow-up.
Common questions
Does prostate cancer always cause symptoms?
No, prostate cancer does not always cause symptoms, especially at first. Many symptoms can also come from other prostate problems that are not cancer.
How is prostate cancer diagnosed?
A biopsy is the only way to diagnose prostate cancer.
Is prostate cancer always serious?
No, it is not always serious, because prostate cancer often grows very slowly. But cancer that grows quickly and spreads is serious.
Can prostate cancer be cured?
A cure is possible if the cancer has not spread. How well you do depends on whether the cancer has spread outside the prostate and how abnormal the cancer cells are.
Can prostate cancer be prevented?
Healthy lifestyle changes may help prevent some prostate cancers. These changes include being at a healthy weight, quitting smoking, getting enough exercise, and eating healthy foods.
Sources
- MedlinePlus - Prostate Cancer
- MedlinePlus - Prostate cancer (Medical Encyclopedia)
- American Cancer Society - Prostate Cancer Signs and Symptoms
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
