• Published on: Sep 10, 2021
  • 3 minute read
  • By: Second Medic Expert

What Are The Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment Of Prostate Cancer?

  • WhatsApp share link icon
  • copy & share link icon
  • twitter share link icon
  • facebook share link icon

What are the symptoms, causes, and treatment of Prostate cancer?

The different types of prostate cancer are generally classified by grade, degree of progression and staging. Treatment options include surgery, radiation, hormone therapy to suppress testosterone production or blocking the activity of hormones produced by other endocrine glands that stimulate the growth of prostate cancer cells.

Surgical treatment is often recommended when prostate tumors are detected in their early stages-localized stage-as it can usually eliminate them or control tumor growth, so they don't depend on hormones to survive. Surgery may also be recommended if the tumor cannot be seen clearly enough for an accurate diagnosis with imaging tests. Your physician may advise you about this option after discussing your medical history and physical examination results with you.

Symptoms of prostate cancer can be like the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. After noticing these or other symptoms, a doctor will perform a digital examination and ask some general health questions. Possible tests may include an analysis of the fluid secreted by the prostate gland when urinating (known as a "prostate-specific" antigen test), a biopsy, an MRI or CT scan imaging exam, or bone scans to rule out metastasis. Treatment may consist of certain medications that slow down tumor growth including finasteride and others; radiation therapy; surgery with prostatectomy to remove the bladder neck and sectioning/removal of all remaining tissue from within the urinary tract to prevent further spread beyond.

Prostate cancer has no signs or symptoms, so the only prevention is to get screened.

More information to include in the answer: There are several different types of prostate cancer that can be detected with a prostate exam. Some require surgery while others do not. Once diagnosed, treatment for these cancers often focuses on palliative care measures to relieve pain and other bothersome symptoms because prostate tumors rarely spread beyond the confines of this gland; they are considered localized or regional tumors. Treatment for advanced cancers may involve hormone therapy (antiandrogens) or chemotherapy (taxanes like docetaxel).

The symptoms of prostate cancer are also nonspecific and might include a change in frequency or volume of urine flow. An in-depth medical exam often determines the diagnosis, but anxieties in men over forty should be assuaged by getting a PSA test when appropriate. The causes sometimes arise from general conditions common from age 40 on which drive prostate cancer up from 1 out of 100 for people under 40 to 1 out of 4 for people over 80 - such as obesity, diabetes, elevated blood level cholesterol, family history and so forth. It's extra important to look after what we eat and how we live if we have one or more of these conditions already present.

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men. It is particularly more prevalent in elderly men. Over time, prostate cells may develop genetic damage that can lead to uncontrolled, or out-of-control cell growth. The most frequent cause of prostate cancer is age>40 years and obesity (>120% ideal body weight). Treatment for early-stage prostate cancers include surgery, radiation therapy and hormone therapy drugs.

Risk factors for prostate cancer are advanced age, being overweight or obese, family history of the disease or personal history of other cancers that have affected the gland near the prostate (eg., bladder), heavy consumption of alcohol (>2 drinks/day), sedentary lifestyle involving long periods without exercise (<1>

The symptoms of prostate cancer include difficulty urinating, prolonged or too frequent urination, blood in the urine or semen, pain when passing urine or ejaculating, erectile dysfunction. Possible causes include heredity and dietary factors. Treatments can involve surgery to remove the prostate gland in some cases. Options for this might include nerve-sparing robotic surgery when available.

  • Symptoms of prostate cancer include difficulty emptying the bladder, few or interrupted urination, pain during urination and bowel movement, excessive thin urine (pee), bloody urine or semen.
  • Causes of prostate cancer are close to zero chance of contracting it until you reach your 40's. If you had an older family history that involved prostate cancer, then there is a slightly elevated risk.
  • Medical treatment involves surgery to remove the entire gland or radical surgery where both testicles are removed as well as tissue all around the area called the para urethral region, including some muscle tissue on either side called "the peri spongiosum". This medical procedure may cure tumor not otherwise reachable with surgery.

Most of the symptoms are just a part of an enlarged prostate. The treatment is largely based on the type and stage, so for this answer, I will simply mention recurrences- which can happen in an estimated 5% to 20% of people after being treated. Late-stage cancers have been observed to reach points where they have not been observed to grow or spread but have still appeared to persist. As with any cancer, my suggestion would be that you go see your doctor best suited for your needs if you are concerned about any possible symptoms involving your prostate.

Prostate cancer is the third most common male malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men. It primarily arises from glandular epithelium primarily by way of the prostate ducts and invades nearly every other organ system including bone, lymph nodes and blood vessels.

Symptoms may include hematuria (blood in urine), prostatitis (difficulty urinating), and erectile dysfunction; while risk factors that contribute to getting prostate cancer or who can be diagnosed include age (>50 years old); race (African American); family history of prostate cancer; sexually transmitted diseases such as human papilloma virus or chlamydia infection; diet with high intake of red meat, animal fat, dairy products.

Symptoms of prostate cancer may include difficulty urinating, pain or burning during urination, blood in the urine or semen, frequent trips to the bathroom at night (nocturia) and trouble starting a steady flow of urine. Causes of prostate cancer are related to genetic factors as well as environmental exposure to substances such as pesticides or components in processed foods.

Treatment for Prostate cancer varies depending on its severity. For example, if the tumor is small and is not growing fast it may be watched carefully with regular testing until it grows large enough to produce symptoms like difficulty urinating.

Read Blog
Healthcare Data Analytics in India: Powering Smarter, Predictive Care | SecondMedic

Healthcare Data Analytics in India: Powering Smarter, Predictive Care | SecondMedic

In today’s digital era, data is transforming Indian healthcare. From hospitals to telehealth apps, analytics is turning raw information into actionable medical intelligence.

For a country with 1.4 billion people and one of the fastest-growing healthcare markets in the world, data analytics is the key to making care predictive, preventive, and personalized.

And platforms like SecondMedic are using this power to revolutionize the way India stays healthy.

 

The Rise of Healthcare Data Analytics in India

According to NASSCOM’s HealthTech Report (2025), the healthcare analytics market in India is valued at USD 1.3 billion and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 24.5% through 2030.

The drivers behind this growth include:

  • The explosion of digital health data via ABDM (Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission).

  • Rapid adoption of AI & machine learning in healthcare.

  • The need for predictive models to handle chronic disease management.

  • Growing demand for real-time insights to improve care delivery.
     

With every diagnostic test, wearable device, and teleconsultation generating data - analytics is now the engine of modern healthcare.

 

What Data Analytics Can Do in Healthcare

  1. Early Disease Prediction – AI-driven data models can predict diabetes, heart attacks, and cancer with high accuracy.

  2. Operational Efficiency – Hospitals can optimize staffing, resource use, and patient scheduling using predictive algorithms.

  3. Public Health Management – Real-time outbreak tracking and vaccination analytics improve community health planning.

  4. Cost Reduction – Data analytics can lower healthcare costs by 20–25% through better preventive strategies.

  5. Personalized Medicine – Treatment plans are tailored based on patient data and genetic factors.
     

 

How SecondMedic Uses Data Analytics for Smarter Health

At SecondMedic, data analytics isn’t just a tool - it’s the foundation of intelligent healthcare delivery.

Our AI-powered system gathers insights from diagnostics, patient profiles, and wearable data to offer:

  • Predictive risk scoring for chronic conditions.

  • Smart health dashboards that track real-time trends.

  • Personalized doctor recommendations based on analytics.

  • Population health data for corporate and wellness programs.
     

“At SecondMedic, data isn’t about numbers - it’s about saving lives before symptoms even appear.”
- Dr. Meenakshi Sharma, Medical Director, SecondMedic

 

Market Insights & Reports

  • Market Size: USD 1.3 Billion (2025) ? USD 4.9 Billion by 2030 (IMARC Group)

  • Digital Health Records Coverage: 380 Million Indians under ABDM (NHA 2025)

  • AI Usage in Diagnostics: Expected growth 35?GR (Statista 2025)

  • Hospital Data Analytics Adoption: 61% of large hospitals using analytics tools (FICCI HealthTech 2025)

  • SecondMedic AI Data: 500,000+ risk profiles analyzed since 2023
     

 

Challenges in Healthcare Data Analytics

Despite rapid progress, India faces several challenges:

  • Data fragmentation across hospitals and labs.

  • Lack of interoperability between systems.

  • Privacy and cybersecurity risks.

  • Limited AI awareness among healthcare professionals.
     

However, the ABDM and NITI Aayog Health Data Policy are addressing these issues through secure digital frameworks and data standardization.

 

The Future of Healthcare Data Analytics in India

As India’s digital health infrastructure grows, analytics will play an even larger role - from precision medicine to AI-powered predictive care.

With platforms like SecondMedic, healthcare is shifting from reactive treatment to data-informed prevention, ensuring better outcomes for millions.

 

Conclusion

Healthcare data analytics in India is not about numbers - it’s about insights that save lives.

By turning data into meaningful health actions, SecondMedic is helping build a future where diseases are predicted before they progress and care is delivered before it’s too late.

Experience data-driven preventive healthcare at www.secondmedic.com

 

References

See all

Live Doctor consultation
Live Doctor Chat

Download Our App & Get Consultation from anywhere.

App Download
call icon for mobile number calling and whatsapp at secondmedic