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Health condition

Prostate cancer symptoms guide

Early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms at all - this guide explains the changes that warrant a check and how assessment works in the UK.

Last reviewed 2026-09-27 · Next review due 2027-09-27

Key points

  • Early prostate cancer is typically symptom-free; urinary symptoms are more often due to benign enlargement

  • Possible signs: difficulty urinating, blood in urine or semen, and bone pain in advanced disease

  • Men over 50 (or over 45 with a family history or Black ethnicity) can ask their GP for a PSA test

  • Assessment is led by a consultant urologist, usually with PSA, MRI and targeted biopsy

  • Most prostate cancers found early are very treatable, and some need no immediate treatment

Understanding it

About Prostate cancer symptoms guide.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in UK men, and in its early, most treatable stages it rarely causes symptoms. When symptoms do occur - a weakening stream, urinary frequency, blood in the urine or semen, or new persistent bone pain - they need assessment, although most turn out to have benign causes.

A PSA blood test and examination, followed where needed by a multiparametric MRI and targeted biopsy. On the NHS, routine referrals of this kind often take 20-45+ weeks in many areas, whereas a private consultant urologist can typically see you within around two weeks, with any tests and treatment arranged promptly afterwards.

A quiet reminder

This guide is for information, not medical advice.

Your GP or specialist knows your history and can tell you which parts apply to you. If in doubt, see them - and treat sudden severe symptoms as an emergency.

Frequently asked

Common questions about Prostate cancer symptoms guide.

Quick, plain-English answers to what people ask us most.

  • What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

    Early prostate cancer often causes no symptoms at all, while more advanced disease can cause urinary symptoms such as difficulty starting to urinate, a weak flow, or needing to urinate more frequently, particularly at night.

  • Why does early prostate cancer often have no symptoms?

    Prostate cancer frequently develops in a part of the prostate away from the urethra (the tube carrying urine), so it can grow for some time without causing noticeable urinary symptoms, which is why PSA testing is used for earlier detection.

  • What symptoms might suggest more advanced prostate cancer?

    Bone pain, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue can occur if prostate cancer has spread beyond the prostate gland, though these symptoms have many other possible causes too and need proper medical assessment.

  • Are urinary symptoms always a sign of prostate cancer?

    No, urinary symptoms are actually more commonly caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a common, non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate, though any new urinary symptoms should still be assessed to check the cause.

  • How is prostate cancer diagnosed if symptoms are present?

    Assessment typically involves a PSA blood test, a digital rectal examination, and often an MRI scan, with a biopsy performed if these initial tests suggest a significant risk of cancer.

  • Should I be tested for prostate cancer even without symptoms?

    This is a personal decision to discuss with your doctor, particularly from around age 50 (or earlier with relevant risk factors like family history or being of Black ethnicity), weighing the potential benefits and limitations of PSA testing.

  • Prostate cancer symptoms vs BPH symptoms — what's the difference?

    Both can cause similar urinary symptoms, so symptoms alone can't reliably distinguish between them; a PSA test, examination, and sometimes further investigation are needed to determine the underlying cause.

  • How quickly do prostate cancer symptoms, when present, develop?

    This varies considerably, as prostate cancer often grows slowly over years, meaning symptoms, when they do occur, typically develop gradually rather than suddenly.

  • Should I be concerned about blood in my urine or semen?

    Blood in urine or semen can occasionally be linked to prostate conditions, including cancer, though it has many other more common causes; this symptom should always be assessed by a doctor promptly.

  • When should I see a doctor, and how quickly can I be seen privately?

    See a doctor for any new or persistent urinary symptoms, or if you're due for prostate cancer risk discussion. Private urology assessment is typically available within about two weeks, faster than standard NHS referral waiting times.