Metastatic prostate cancer

Metastatic prostate cancer can often cause symptoms, although not
everyone has symptoms. Symptoms depend on how your cancer has affected you. Urinary problems or bone pain are the most common symptoms, but starting treatment often improves these.

If your prostate gland is enlarged, you may:

• Have difficulty passing urine
• Pass urine more often day and night
• Feel your bladder isn’t empty after going to the toilet 

If the cancer is affecting your bones, symptoms can include:

• A nagging ache in a particular bone
• More severe bone pain
• Weakened bones that break easily
• Too much calcium in your blood, which can cause tiredness, constipation, nausea, thirst and confusion

Some symptoms may be vague, such as feeling unwell, unusually tired or weak.

Spinal cord compression happens if the cancer presses on the nerves in your spine. Although this is a less common symptom, it’s very important to treat spinal cord compression urgently. 

Go to your doctor immediately if you have symptoms such as pain, weakness or tingling in your leg, reduced mobility, or loss of bladder and bowel control. If you can’t see a doctor, go to a hospital emergency department and explain that you have metastatic prostate cancer.

Read more about spinal cord compression.