I find it difficult passing water and get up frequently at night to urinate. Do I have prostate cancer?

There are many possible reasons for finding it difficult to urinate and having to get up frequently at night to urinate. This can often be caused by the enlargement of the prostate, as the prostate continues to grow in most men and this can restrict urinary flow. A frequent condition amongst men over the age of 45 (nearly half) and the majority of men in their sixties is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is where non-cancerous growths occur in the prostate, which can affect the urinary flow. Another condition which can affect men is called prostatitis, which is an inflammation of the prostate. This can be a long-standing condition and sometimes is an acute condition that suddenly occurs. Sometimes, mainly in older men, symptoms such as difficulty in urinating might be an indication of prostate cancer. The most important thing is to seek medical advice, so as to rule out the possibility of prostate cancer.

If you have such symptoms, don’t ignore them. Visit your GP, as there is often a treatment that can be considered. You may find it helpful to take our self examination to gauge the severity of your symptoms and take it with you to your doctor.?