Men’s Health: Early Signs of Prostate Cancer Australian Men Should Know
Summary Prostate cancer is Australia’s most commonly diagnosed cancer, but outcomes are often very good when it is found early. Men should speak with their GP about urinary symptoms, prostate cancer risk and whether PSA testing is appropriate. Earlier diagnosis may provide more time to consider treatment options.
Most Australian men will happily spend an entire Saturday debating lawn care, reversing trailers, or explaining why the barbecue tongs must be clicked exactly twice before cooking.
But talking about the prostate? Different story.
Yet prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia. The encouraging news is that treatments and survival rates have improved dramatically, especially when the disease is found early.
For many men, a simple conversation with a GP can make all the difference.
What is the prostate?
The prostate is a small gland found only in men. It sits below the bladder and surrounds part of the urethra — the tube that carries urine out of the body.
Its main role is to help produce semen, the fluid that transports sperm.
In younger men, the prostate is about the size of a walnut. As men age, it commonly enlarges. This is extremely normal and does not automatically mean cancer.
However, because the prostate wraps around the urethra, changes in the gland can affect urination and bladder function.
Risk factors: Who gets prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer can affect any man, but some factors increase the likelihood.
The biggest risk factor is age. Most prostate cancers occur in men over 50, with the average age at diagnosis in Australia around 69 years.
Other risk factors include:
- having a father or brother with prostate cancer
- inherited genetic factors such as BRCA gene mutations
- obesity and poor metabolic health
- smoking
- low physical activity levels.
Importantly, many men diagnosed with prostate cancer considered themselves relatively healthy beforehand.
What are the symptoms?
One of the challenges with prostate cancer is that many men have no symptoms in the early stages.
When symptoms do occur, they may include:
- needing to urinate more often
- getting up multiple times overnight to use the toilet
- difficulty starting urination
- a weak urine stream
- feeling the bladder is not fully empty
- pain or discomfort during urination
- blood in urine or semen.
Advanced prostate cancer may sometimes cause:
- unexplained weight loss
- fatigue
- bone or back pain.
These symptoms do not always mean cancer. In many cases, they are caused by benign prostate enlargement, which becomes more common with age. However, it is important not to ignore persistent symptoms.
Nikos and the Shot Glass Bladder
For months, 68-year-old Nikos, had joked that his bladder was “about the size of a shot glass”.
Nikos would wake three or four times a night to use the toilet, then stand waiting for his urine flow to start. The local green grocer insisted it was simply part of ‘getting older.’
His wife Irene was less convinced. She’d already cut back his nightly ouzo ‘until you see the doctor.’ After one particularly exhausting week and constant trips to the toilet at the shop, Irene finally marched him to the doctor nearby.
The PSA blood test eventually led to an early diagnosis of prostate cancer. It had been detected before it spread beyond the prostate.
- Nikos’ story is fictional but based on commonly reported prostate cancer experiences.
How is prostate cancer diagnosed?
Many Australian men are diagnosed after a routine PSA blood test arranged by their GP.
PSA stands for prostate-specific antigen, a protein produced by the prostate gland. Elevated PSA levels can sometimes indicate prostate cancer, although other prostate conditions may also raise PSA levels.
If PSA levels are higher than expected, a GP may recommend:
- repeat blood testing
- MRI scans
- referral to a urologist
- prostate biopsy.
Australia does not currently have a national prostate cancer screening program, so PSA testing is usually discussed individually between a man and his GP.
How is prostate cancer treated?
Treatment depends on the type, stage, and aggressiveness of the cancer.
Common treatments include:
- active surveillance (careful monitoring)
- surgery to remove the prostate
- radiation therapy
- hormone therapy
- targeted therapies in some cases.
Not all prostate cancers require immediate treatment. Some grow very slowly and may simply be monitored over time.
Doctors now have much better tools to identify which cancers need treatment and which may safely be observed.
Some good news about prostate cancer
There is genuinely encouraging news.
Survival rates for prostate cancer in Australia have improved significantly over recent decades. Today, around 96 per cent of Australian men diagnosed with prostate cancer survive at least five years after diagnosis.
Many prostate cancers are also detected earlier than in the past, before symptoms develop or the cancer spreads.
Advances in MRI technology, precision surgery, radiation therapy, and active surveillance have helped reduce unnecessary treatment and improve the quality of life for many men.
Walk for Him: National Fundraiser
The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia runs events such as Walk for Him, which encourages Australians to walk in support of men impacted by prostate cancer while raising funds for research, support services, and awareness.
Funds raised through initiatives like Walk for Him help support specialist prostate cancer nurses, educational resources, research programs, and support groups across Australia.
Walk For Him declares, ‘No man should walk alone with prostate cancer.’
Participants set their own goals. Everyone is welcome. Every fitness level is okay.
Sign up and raise $50 before June 9 to receive a free T-shirt.
Central Coast fundraising and social groups
The Central Coast community is also highly active in fundraising and awareness events supporting prostate cancer research and care.
The Long Run
If you miss Men’s Health Week, you can still support Australian men’s health by conquering 72km during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month through The Long Run.
Central Coast Men’s Walk
A free, weekly group where local men come together to walk, talk and support one another in a non-judgmental environment. Aside from better mental health, the men’s walk can give men a few friends, a good laugh, and some business contacts. It’s an end to isolation. Learn more about the Central Coast men’s walk
Nikos and the Shot Glass Bladder
After discussions with his urologist, Nikos chose robotic-assisted prostate surgery.
Like many men undergoing prostate cancer treatment, Nikos also had to consider potential side effects such as urinary incontinence and changes in sexual function
He says the experience taught him something many Australian men eventually realise: a slightly awkward conversation with a GP is far easier than ignoring symptoms and hoping they disappear.
- While every prostate cancer journey is different, earlier conversations and earlier diagnosis may provide more time to consider treatment options.
The bottom line
Many Australian men delay health check-ups because they feel fine, feel busy, or simply don’t enjoy discussing personal health issues.
But prostate cancer is common, and early conversations matter.
A simple GP appointment, health check, or discussion about prostate symptoms or PSA testing may provide reassurance — or detect problems earlier, when treatment is often most effective.
And yes, your GP has heard every awkward prostate joke already. But they never get old.
FAQ about Prostate Cancer
Does trouble urinating always mean prostate cancer?
No. Urinary symptoms are often caused by benign prostate enlargement, which becomes more common with age. However, persistent changes should be discussed with a GP.
Is there a national prostate cancer screening program in Australia?
No. Australia does not currently have a national prostate cancer screening program. PSA testing is usually discussed individually between a man and his GP, based on age, symptoms, family history and personal risk.
Will I have continence or erection problems after prostate cancer treatment?
Some men experience urinary leakage (continence problems) or erectile dysfunction after prostate cancer treatment, particularly following surgery. The likelihood varies depending on factors such as age, overall health, the type of treatment, and whether nerve-sparing techniques can be used. Many men see improvement over time, and support options such as pelvic floor physiotherapy, medications, and specialist care may help. Your specialist can discuss the potential benefits and risks of different treatment options based on your individual circumstances.
What is a PSA test?
A PSA test is a blood test that measures prostate-specific antigen, a protein made by the prostate gland. A higher PSA level can sometimes indicate prostate cancer, but it can also be raised by other prostate conditions.
What is the good news about prostate cancer?
Survival rates have improved significantly. In Australia, around 96 per cent of men diagnosed with prostate cancer survive at least five years. When found early, prostate cancer often has more treatment options and better outcomes.
Helpful Australian resources
- Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia
- Central Coast Cancer Services
- Healthdirect Australia — Prostate Cancer
- Cancer Council NSW — Prostate Cancer
- Canrefer — Central Coast Cancer Service
This article is general information and doesn’t take your personal medical situation into account. For advice that’s right for you, see your doctor.
