1 in 8 men face prostate cancer: Why ignoring lower back pain could be fatal

Pain or other discomfort in the groin area may signify prostate cancer, a condition that frequently goes undiagnosed due to a lack of knowledge about its typical symptoms.

Apart from lower back pain, also be aware of the following: frequent urination (especially at night), difficulty starting or stopping urination, weak urine flow, a sense of incomplete bladder emptying, the presence of blood in urine or semen, pain in the groin area, sudden weight loss or loss of appetite.

Dr. Vithlani stresses the importance of early diagnosis of prostate cancer. The disease's initial stage often progresses without evident symptoms. Only when the tumor grows large enough to exert pressure on neighboring structures, such as the urinary tract or pelvic bones, do the symptoms become more apparent?

Doctors urge men to undergo regular check-ups with their family doctor, even if they're not experiencing any troubling symptoms. It is also recommended that men from high-risk groups, such as those with a family history of cancer, have prostate examinations every two years.

The likelihood of these men developing this type of cancer is 2-3 times higher than in individuals with no such family history.

Prostate cancer doesn't just affect men over 55 - the diagnosis rate among young men has nearly doubled over the past 20 years.

Worryingly, in younger patients, prostate cancer can progress more aggressively. This requires special clinical attention and greater awareness about the possibility of the disease emerging among potential patients.