Snellville Clinic & Surgery Center
1557 Janmar RdSnellville, GA 30078
Prostate cancer · Snellville & Conyers, GA
Prostate cancer symptoms: what to watch for, and why early cancer is often silent
Most men with early prostate cancer feel completely normal. That is the hard truth behind the question “does prostate cancer have symptoms?”, and it is why a PSA blood test and an exam matter more than waiting for a sign. Our urologists check PSA results, urinary symptoms and family risk at our Snellville office, 1557 Janmar Rd, and in Conyers, for men from Grayson, Loganville, Lilburn, Covington, McDonough and across Gwinnett and Rockdale.
Does prostate cancer have symptoms early on?
Usually not. Advanced Urology notes that prostate cancer often has no symptoms in its early stages, even when it is an aggressive type. A small tumor inside the gland rarely presses on anything you can feel.
That is why most prostate cancers in Snellville and Conyers patients are first suspected from a PSA result or an exam finding, not from a symptom. Feeling fine is not the same as being clear.
What are the signs of prostate cancer when they do appear?
When symptoms show up, they tend to come from a larger tumor or cancer that has spread. Advanced Urology lists:
- A weaker urine stream
- Needing to pee more often, especially at night
- Discomfort in the pelvic area
- Losing weight without trying
- Swelling in the legs or feet
Blood in the urine or semen and new bone pain, often in the back or hips, can also appear when cancer has grown or moved beyond the prostate, often to lymph nodes or bones. Any of these deserve a visit, even though other conditions can cause them too.
Is it prostate cancer or an enlarged prostate?
A weak stream, getting up at night, a sense of not emptying and a constant urge to pee are more often caused by BPH, a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate that is common as men age. Infections and an overactive bladder cause the same complaints.
The two can exist side by side, and both can raise PSA, so symptoms alone can’t tell them apart. That is why a visit for urinary trouble usually includes a PSA test and an exam. Read more on our enlarged prostate (BPH) page and the weak urine stream page.
What does PSA testing involve?
PSA, short for prostate-specific antigen, is a protein the prostate releases into the blood, and a routine blood draw measures it. Levels under 4 ng/mL are often called normal, but what is normal for you depends on your age, your earlier results and your health. A rise from your own baseline can matter more than a single number.
PSA can also go up with an enlarged prostate, an infection, inflammation or even a bad cold. A digital rectal exam, where the doctor feels the prostate for lumps or hard areas, takes a few minutes and can find changes PSA misses.
What happens after a raised PSA?
A raised number calls for a closer look; it does not by itself mean cancer. Depending on your numbers, exam and family history, our urologists may recommend:
- A repeat PSA, especially after a recent illness or infection
- A urine test to look for infection
- A prostate MRI
- A prostate biopsy, done at Advanced Urology with high-resolution micro-ultrasound in about 15 minutes under anesthesia at our surgery centers, including Snellville
- If cancer is found, PSMA PET/CT imaging to see whether it has spread
The work-up happens in our Snellville building, and Conyers patients can have their visits and results reviews closer to home. Our high PSA and biopsy page covers each step.
Who should think about testing sooner?
Risk climbs with age, particularly after 50. Advanced Urology also notes a higher risk if your father, brother or son had prostate cancer, or if you carry an inherited change in a gene such as BRCA1, BRCA2 or HOXB13. Black men face a higher chance of prostate cancer, and their cancers tend to be more aggressive. A family history of breast or ovarian cancer is worth mentioning too, since your urologist may suggest earlier or more frequent screening.
Where can I be seen?
PSA checks and prostate follow-up happen at both offices. Call (678) 344-8900 to book in Snellville or Conyers.
Snellville, GA 30078
Conyers Clinic
1366 Wellbrook Circle Suite BConyers, GA 30012
Who will I see?
Urologists here who follow up PSA results and prostate cancer: meet the whole team.
Jitesh Patel, MDUrologist · Snellville 
A. Dev Mally, MDUrologist · Snellville 
Vik Sabarwal, MDUrologist · Snellville 
Marc Greenstein, DOUrologist · Conyers
Is there a video on this?
Dr. Marc Greenstein of our Conyers office talks about prostate cancer awareness and testing.
What do people ask us?
Does prostate cancer have symptoms?
Early prostate cancer usually has none, even in aggressive cases. When symptoms appear, they can include a weaker stream, more trips at night, pelvic discomfort, blood in the urine or semen, bone pain or weight loss without trying. Those signs are often caused by other conditions, which is why testing matters.
What are the first signs of prostate cancer?
For most men the first sign is a PSA result above their usual level or a change on a rectal exam, not something they feel. Urinary changes such as a weak stream are more often caused by BPH. A raised PSA is followed up with a repeat test, a urine test and sometimes an MRI before any biopsy.
Can you have prostate cancer with a normal PSA?
Yes, which is why the rectal exam still matters. A lump or hard area can show up on an exam even when PSA is in the usual range. Your urologist also weighs family history and how your PSA has changed over time.
Is frequent urination a sign of prostate cancer?
It can be, but frequent urination is more often caused by an enlarged prostate, an overactive bladder or an infection. Because the conditions overlap, a visit for frequent urination in men usually includes a PSA test. See our frequent urination page for the other causes.
Where can I see a prostate cancer doctor near Snellville?
Our Snellville Clinic & Surgery Center at 1557 Janmar Rd handles PSA follow-up, biopsies and treatment planning, and our Conyers Clinic sees men from Rockdale, Newton and Henry counties. Men from Grayson, Loganville and Lilburn come to Snellville. Call (678) 344-8900 or book online.
Where can I read more?
General education, not a diagnosis. Our urologists explain testing and treatment choices with you.
Have a PSA result or symptom you want checked?
Book a visit in Snellville or Conyers and our urologists will walk through what it means.