The prostate is a small gland that is part of the male reproductive system. Prostate cancer and prostatitis are two conditions that affect the prostate and can present with similar symptoms. However, the two diseases are different because prostatitis refers to inflammation of the prostate, while prostate cancer occurs when prostate cells mutate and begin to divide uncontrollably. Prostate problems are more common in older men because the prostate gland grows with age and its growth affects its function. What is prostate cancer? Prostate cancer is an adenocarcinoma, which means that the malignancy develops in the gland or secretory cells where prostate secretions are produced. However, prostate cancer can also develop in other local cells. Besides skin cancer, prostate cancer is among the most common cancers in men. What is prostatitis? Prostatitis is a condition that involves painful inflammation of the prostate and the area around it. Prostatitis is the most common problem of the urinary system in men under the age of 50 and the third most common in those over 50. There are four main types of prostatitis: Chronic prostatitis or chronic pelvic pain syndrome. This is the most common type of prostatitis and it can cause pain or discomfort that lasts for 3 months or more. The condition occurs due to strain or damage to the urinary tract after surgery or physical injury; Acute bacterial prostatitis. This is an unusual type of prostatitis that occurs suddenly when bacteria enter the prostate from the urethra; Chronic bacterial prostatitis. This type of prostatitis is similar to acute bacterial prostatitis, but has a more gradual onset and a longer duration; Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis. This is a form of prostatitis that does not cause symptoms. A doctor can identify it through a blood test or imaging test. What are the symptoms of prostate cancer and prostatitis? Early stage prostate cancer usually does not show any symptoms. More advanced cases can cause complaints that may include: Problems urinating, such as a weak stream and more frequent urination, especially at night (nocturia); Blood in the urine or semen; Difficulty achieving and maintaining an erection; Weakness or numbness in the lower limbs or loss of bladder or bowel control; Bone pain due to the spread of cancer. Symptoms of prostatitis vary depending on the type of prostatitis and the individual man suffering from the disease, but many of the symptoms of different types of prostatitis can overlap: Symptoms of chronic prostatitis or chronic pelvic pain syndrome Trouble urinating (and sometimes pain); Pain in the bladder, testicles and penis; Ejaculation problems and pain.Symptoms of acute bacterial prostatitis Fever; Burning sensation when urinating; Difficulty emptying the bladder. Symptoms of chronic bacterial prostatitis Burning sensation when urinating; Frequent urination; Pain in the bladder, testicles and penis; Pain on ejaculation. Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate, and prostate cancer occurs when cells in the prostate tissue divide uncontrollably, creating tumors. Some symptoms of prostate cancer and prostatitis, such as pain and frequent urination, can overlap between the different conditions. However, early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms, and men affected by it may only notice symptoms at a more advanced stage of the disease. Is there a connection between prostate cancer and prostatitis? While both conditions cause problems, prostate cancer is significantly more dangerous and is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in men. Prostatitis is not fatal. Prostatitis is a relatively common condition as it is likely to affect around 50% of all men at some point in their lives. Similarly, more than half of all men are likely to develop cancerous cells in the prostate gland by the age of 80. However, most of these cancer cells may never cause symptoms or become a serious health problem. Doctors can diagnose early-stage prostate cancer with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. Prostate cancer may not cause symptoms, but a high PSA level may indicate the diagnosis. However, other factors can raise the PSA level, including prostatitis. Various other tests, such as blood tests, ultrasounds, and biopsies, can help differentiate and identify the condition a patient has. It is also possible to have prostate cancer and prostatitis at the same time. It is not uncommon for a patient to experience symptoms of prostatitis and also receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer. Current evidence suggests that prostatitis or other prostate problems do not increase a man’s risk of developing prostate cancer. However, a patient with prostatitis is more likely to receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer. This is because these patients have more interactions with specialists and undergo more diagnostic tests leading to the detection and diagnosis of prostate cancer. Researchers are investigating whether inflammation may contribute to the eventual development of prostate cancer, but there is no evidence yet. While both conditions can occur at the same time, evidence suggests that prostate cancer does not inflame the prostate or cause prostatitis. However, some cancer treatment options, such as radiation therapy, can lead to prostatitis-like symptoms. References: 1. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Leslie, SW, et al. (2021). Prostate cancer 2.American Cancer Society (ACS). Prostate cancer (n.d.). 3. Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF). Prostatitis. (n.d.). 4. Urology Care Foundation. Prostatitis (infection of the prostate). (n.d.). 5. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Prostatitis: Inflammation of the prostate