The prostate sits below the bladder and surrounds the urethra, so most prostate issues first announce themselves through urinary symptoms. The most common cause in older men is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a non-cancerous enlargement. Typical signs include a slow or weak stream, dribbling at the end, urgency, getting up at night to urinate, and incomplete emptying.
Important to know: early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms at all, which is why screening discussions matter rather than waiting for symptoms. Symptoms like these are far more often BPH or a urine infection than cancer.
See a doctor if urinary symptoms are bothering you, getting worse, or new. Seek urgent care if you cannot pass urine at all (acute retention), have blood in your urine, or have fever with back or groin pain, as these need prompt assessment. A clinician can examine you, test your urine, and discuss whether a PSA blood test is right for you.