What are the symptoms of prostate cancer metastasis?

Metastasis of prostate cancer is a process in which cancer cells spread to other parts of the body, beyond the original site where they began. Common symptoms of prostate cancer metastasis include:

Pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips and upper thighs
Weight loss accompanied by poor appetite
Fatigue coupled with anemia
Unexplained fever
Trouble urinating due to blockage from tumor growths in the urinary tract system
Loss of bladder control caused by pressure on nerves from tumors expanding into adjacent tissue structures such as muscle, fat or bone
Difficulty getting erections due to nerve damage from tumors near reproductive organs

Some people may also experience constitutional symptoms such as general malaise and weakness that can be caused by hormones released by prostate cancer cells stimulating distant organs like bone marrow and intestines. Additionally, organ-specific signs may arise depending on what organ is affected by metastasis including coughing or shortness of breath if lung metastases are present; jaundice if liver metastases are present; neurological deficits (weakness, numbness) if spinal cord compression is present; enlarged lymph nodes that can cause pain when pressed against an underlying structure such as a rib cage or breastbone etc.. In some cases early detection during routine medical exams can help promote better outcomes for patients struggling with this condition however most often diagnosis occurs through imaging studies done after symptoms begin manifesting themselves in order to determine how far advanced the disease has become before beginning treatments like hormone therapy, chemotherapy and radiation therapy for managing symptoms and promoting longer term remission periods for patients with difficult-to-treat forms of prostate cancer metastasis.*