How Long You Can Have Prostate Cancer Without Knowing It

Like most cancers, you want to catch prostate cancer in its early stages. However a person may not initially realize they have prostate cancer due to the fact that the disease is largely asymptomatic, according to HCA Houston Healthcare. In fact, CNN reports that it can take a decade or more before a prostate tumor begins to produce symptoms. Without undergoing routine prostate cancer screenings, this can increase the risk for the disease's progression.

For most people, survival rates are favorable; research shows a 97% five-year survival rate in patients with prostate cancer who were diagnosed between 2017 and 2021, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). During this four-year period, the data shows the majority of prostate cancer cases were diagnosed in the localized stage, in which the cancer is isolated solely to the prostate gland. Survival rates drop, however, if the cancer is found to be in more advanced stages upon detection.

Prostate cancer tends to fly under the radar because the disease is slow to develop. In some cases, however, people with prostates may begin to experience early-stage symptoms. This can include nocturia, erectile dysfunction, a weak urine stream, blood in one's urine or semen, as well as pain or burning sensations that strike when peeing or during ejaculation. While applicable to any number of health conditions (such as prostatitis or an enlarged prostate), it is best to consult with your doctor if you develop any unusual urinary symptoms.

In cases of advanced or metastatic prostate cancer, individuals may experience more severe symptoms, such as leg swelling, difficulty breathing, persistent cough, or pain in the back or hips. HCA Houston Healthcare notes, however, that this is largely dependent on which areas of the body the cancer has infiltrated. Often spreading to the rectum, bladder, and bones, prostate cancer that has made its way to the bowels may alternatively prompt symptoms of abdominal pain, constipation, or fecal incontinence.

Another potential reason a person may go a while before knowing they have prostate cancer is due to prolonged wait times from diagnosis to treatment within the healthcare system. In a 2010 study published in the Canadian Urological Association Journal, researchers pointed out that this is a problem many patients in Canada face. As outlined in the research, wait times for diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer tend to be lengthier than those associated with other kinds of cancers. This can potentially have adverse effects on both the patient's psychological and physical health. 

The findings showed that the average wait between the date of suspected prostate cancer to radical radiotherapy treatment was 247 days. Only five out of the study's 41 patients were diagnosed within the country's expert recommendations of a four-week time frame, with the causes related to both patients and providers. More recent 2020 findings published in the Journal of Public Health Research, however, suggest that wait times have been improving over the years.

If you develop potential early signs of prostate cancer, reach out to your physician. The American Cancer Society suggests that starting at the age of 50, people with prostates should discuss routine screenings with their healthcare provider. People in high-risk groups, such as African American men or individuals with a family history of cancer, are recommended to discuss starting prostate cancer screenings between the ages of 40 and 49.