Your prostate, located just below your bladder, is a small gland that produces the fluid portion of semen. As men age, the prostate tends to grow larger. Sometimes, the cause of this growth is benign; in such cases, you may be diagnosed with BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or an enlarged prostate.) In other cases, however, cancer may be the cause of prostate enlargement. Many men develop worrying symptoms that they believe are signs of cancer, only to learn that they simply have BPH. Conversely, some men ignore symptoms such as difficulty with urination, only to discover later on that they have cancer that could have been caught and treated at an earlier stage. In this post, shared during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, we explain the differences between an enlarged prostate vs prostate cancer, helping guide you toward the correct diagnosis and treatment options.

Enlarged Prostate vs Prostate Cancer: Similarities and Differences

Some BPH symptoms mimic those associated with prostate cancer, including:

• Find it hard to urinate
• Frequent urination and nocturia
• Urinary flow that stops and starts or dribbles
• Pain with urination
• Incontinence with urine
• In some cases, blood in the urine

However, there are also differences in the symptoms of BPH vs prostate cancer. When cancer is the cause of prostate enlargement, you may also experience fecal incontinence. Back, pelvic and hip pain are also common symptoms of prostate cancer, but not of BPH.

Will BPH Become Cancer?

Even after a BPH diagnosis, some men wonder if an enlarged prostate will turn into cancer. But the two conditions are unrelated. Another key difference between enlarged prostate vs prostate cancer is that gland growth in BPH is fueled by the growth of prostate cells that are healthy. In contrast, gland enlargement linked to prostate cancer is the result of abnormal cell growth.

Enlarged Prostate vs Prostate Cancer Risk Factors to Consider

Both conditions share certain common risk factors, but there are key differences. Risk factors for BPH include:

• Age (risk increases after you turn 40)
• Family history of BPH
• Remaining sedentary
• Obesity and/or Type 2 diabetes
• Heart disease
• Erectile dysfunction

Prostate cancer risk factors include

• Age (risk increases after you turn 50)
• Race (the disease is more common in African American men)
• Family history

Diagnosis and Treatment Options

Staying proactive about your prostate health is crucial. If you notice any changes to your urination patterns, you should speak to your doctor right away, especially if you are at a higher risk for BPH or prostate cancer. Once you’ve connected with a urologist, you can receive a comprehensive exam that will likely include a digital rectal exam, blood tests, and, if indicated imaging. In cases where it’s unclear if you’re dealing with an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer, your doctor may order a biopsy to detect or rule out cancer.

If you are diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, your doctor can discuss treatment options. Because this cancer is often slow-growing, a specialist will guide you towards your ideal treatment path. Men with BPH have a variety of treatment options, including lifestyle changes; medications such as Cialis for BPH; minimally invasive procedures such as PAE treatment; or, in more severe cases, surgery. To learn more about treating an enlarged prostate with minimally invasive Prostate Artery Embolization, we invite you to connect with our team to request an appointment at one of our seven Texas Prostate Institution locations.