Prostate Cancer: Causes, Early Signs, Treatment Options & How to Lower Your Risk
By Anuj Tiwari +2 more
Medically reviewed by Anuj Tiwari
Last updated: Mar 9, 2026 Published on: Sep 15, 2025
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By Anuj Tiwari +2 more
Table of Contents
The prostate is a small gland in the male reproductive system, which is located below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine and semen out of the body. The main function of the prostate is to produce a white, milky fluid called semen that helps carry sperm. The prostate muscles push out the semen during ejaculation through the urethra1.
So, what is prostate cancer? When the cells in the prostate start growing abnormally, it can turn into prostate cancer. In the early stage, these cells grow in a confined place within the prostate gland. But in advanced stages, the cancer spreads beyond the prostate to nearby tissues, adjacent lymph nodes, and to other parts of the body2.
Among men, prostate cancer ranks as the second most common type of cancer worldwide. The risk of developing prostate cancer is higher in men over the age of 50, and this risk continues to increase as men grow older3,4.
In this blog, we will explore the causes, early symptoms, available prostate cancer treatments, and ways to reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer develops due to various causes and risk factors. The reasons for prostate cancer include:
Other factors like obesity and chronic inflammation of the prostate gland, may also contribute to an increased risk of prostate cancer5,6.
The signs of prostate cancer don’t usually show in the early stage, but if they do appear, they can be like
In advanced stages, the prostate cancer symptoms may include:
The urinary symptoms are seen when the prostate is enlarged and pressing on the urethra, which affects the flow of urine. But these symptoms can also be seen in conditions other than cancer.
Therefore you need to visit a doctor, who will do certain tests and find out if you have prostate cancer5,7.
An important point to note while undergoing diansotic tests is that PSA levels will come falsely elevated if done within one week of trans rectal sonography. Thus PSA levels should be done first followed by transrectal sonography. PSA levels increase in various conditions such as BPH, Prostatitis, urinary catheter insertion, ejaculations.
Dr. Kathak Shah, MBBS, DDV, Fellowship in lasers & aesthetics, Fellowship in Dermatosurgery
Since early-stage prostate cancer does not show symptoms, it is usually detected only through screening. When symptoms are seen in advanced prostate cancer stages, certain tests are done to diagnose prostate cancer, including:
Based on these blood tests, scans, and biopsy reports, prostate cancer is classified into stages. There are 5 main things they look at to stage prostate cancer:
Based on these five factors, the table below shows the stage of prostate cancer, where the cancer is located, the TNM basics, and its category5,8.
| Stage | Cancer characteristics | TNM basics | PSA level | Extent of cancer |
| Stage I | Cancer is only in the prostate. May be very small, may not be felt or seen on imaging. | T1 (tumour is small, only in prostate), N0 (no lymph node spread), M0 (no spread to other organs) | Low (less than 10) | Localised |
| Stage II | Cancer is only in the prostate, larger or faster-growing | T2 (tumour larger but still in the prostate), N0 (no lymph node spread), M0 (no spread to other organs) | Moderate (between 10 and 19) | Localised |
| Stage III | Cancer has grown through the outer layer of the prostate into nearby tissues (such as seminal vesicles) but has not spread to distant organs. | T3–T4 (tumour has grown outside prostate), N0 (no lymph node spread), M0 (no spread to other organs) | High (20 or more) | Locally Advanced |
| Stage IV | Cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes and/or distant parts of the body such as bones, lungs, or liver. | Any T (any tumour size), N1 (spread to lymph nodes) and/or M1 (spread to distant organs) | High (20 or more) | Metastatic |
Staging of prostate cancer is important because it shows how far the cancer has spread and how the patient is likely to recover over time. It also helps doctors choose the best treatment plan for managing the disease8.
Prostate cancer can often be cured especially when detected early. The treatment for prostate cancer depends on which stage the cancer is in and the overall health of the person. The type of treatment given also plays an important role in how long a patient can survive after treatment.
The average five-year survival rate of prostate cancer, that is the percentage of patients who are likely to survive the effects of cancer until or after 5 years of diagnosis, is about 97%. This also depends on the stage upon diagnosis. Most prostate cancers (about 69%) are found when the cancer is still inside the prostate. At this stage, nearly everyone (100 out of 100) lives at least 5 years after diagnosis. If the cancer has spread to nearby areas, the chances are still very good (also 100 out of 100). But if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, the chances go down, with about 38 out of 100 individuals living 5 years or more9,10.
Please note that PSA is organ specific that is specific to prostate gland but not cancer specific. Prostrate cancer is a very slow growing cancer and many men die with prostate cancer and not mainly because of prostate cancer.
Dr. Kathak Shah, MBBS, DDV, Fellowship in lasers & aesthetics, Fellowship in Dermatosurgery
Based on the stage of prostate cancer, the treatment is planned by the doctor. For stages 1 to 3, the doctor classifies them into risk groups. Cancers in low-risk groups are less likely to grow or spread than those in high-risk groups. Other factors like age, general health, and life expectancy are also considered when choosing treatment.
The low-risk groups do not always need treatment, as the cancer is less likely to grow or spread. Doctors often suggest active surveillance, which means having regular check-ups and tests to keep an eye on the cancer.
In those groups where there is a slight chance that cancer can grow or spread faster, the prostate cancer treatment options include:
If surgery shows aggressive features, follow-up radiation therapy may be advised and hormone therapy if needed.
If prostate cancer is more aggressive and has a higher chance of growing and spreading quickly, treatment options often include:
If surgery shows the cancer is aggressive, doctors might recommend follow-up radiation to the area where the prostate used to be, possibly with hormone therapy.
If cancer spreads to nearby lymph nodes but not to distant organs, radiation is given along with hormone therapy, if needed. Surgery of the prostate and lymph nodes may also be an option.
If the cancer has spread to distant organs, treatment options include:
Other treatments to help manage symptoms like bone pain include external radiation, sometimes in a precise form called stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Bone-strengthening medicine like denosumab or zoledronic acid may help, and radioactive drugs such as radium-223, strontium-89, or samarium-153 can also be used.
If the cancer comes back or keeps growing, treatments like immunotherapy, targeted drugs, chemotherapy, or more hormone therapy may be given as the doctor advises5,11.
There are some side effects from prostate cancer treatment, based on the type of treatment used that can include the following:
If you have side effects from prostate cancer treatment, talk to your doctor who will guide you on how to manage them.
You can lower the risks of getting prostate cancer by making a few lifestyle changes which include:
Apart from these lifestyle changes, some medicines like finasteride and dutasteride may help lower prostate cancer risk by blocking hormones that make the prostate grow. But you must only take these if advised by your doctor12.
Any man aged about 50 years or above needs to talk to a doctor about getting a prostate cancer screening test to check prostate health. You need to see a doctor if you have any of these prostate cancer symptoms, including14,16:
Prostate cancer is common in men over fifty but catching it early with regular screenings makes it easier to treat and manage well. You can also lower your risk by living healthy, staying active, eating right, quitting smoking, and getting regular prostate check-ups. Knowing the early signs and getting prompt medical attention can make a huge difference in its preventing spread and enhancing treatment outcome.
If prostate cancer is found early, it can be treated very well. Most men (about 7 out of 10) are diagnosed when the cancer is still inside the prostate. At this stage, almost everyone lives for 5 years or more after diagnosis10.
Not always. If the cancer is slow-growing or you’re older with no symptoms, doctors may just watch it closely. Surgery is usually done only if the cancer grows or spreads outside the prostate7.
Yes, young men between 25 and 40 can get prostate cancer, but it is rare. Cases are rising because doctors are finding them more frequently through screening tests. Younger men often have more advanced cancer when diagnosed17.
Prostate cancer often grows slowly and stays inside the prostate for many years. Some mild types stay local and don’t spread. About 69% of cases stay local, 14% spread nearby, and 8% spread to distant parts. The types that spread fast can do so within 3 to 5 years10,18.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
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