Prostate problem??

[silverstanger]

I have new symptoms and need more advice.


I feel this swollen feeling near my rectum and prostate. namely between my testicles and my rectum but closer to my rectum. This very uncomfortable feeling comes and goes, and has been with me for 2 days. The feeling is near the anal opening maybe 2" up and towards the front (don't ask how I know right where)

I feel a need to urinate pain somewhere in the same area. it is a sharp "gotta pee bad" feeling that comes and lets up in a short period of time. I have also had frequent trips to the bathroom.. even going 4 or 5 times within a short time.

Along with my stinging/burning/cramping pain in my LLQ that has been a constant and has just started stinging and spreading to my hip and back hip area.

Q1: Since I had the LLQ pain first, and now this bladder/prostate feeling. Could I have had some kind of cancer that has now moved to the prostate??

Please give me your best answer. Understand that I am relying on a Charity hospital for care, and that unless you are DYING, they refer and refer you, and the appointments are weeks if not months away from now. My next appointment is in like 2 weeks.

Q2: What tests are done for prostate check. and could something else cause the prostate to swell (which I know it isn't always cancerous).. like is there any other diseases/problems that could irritate the prostate??

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Hello - thanks for asking your question.

Please understand that I cannot diagnose you over the internet.  I can give information that you can present to your personal physician.

1) One consideration to suggest to your personal physician would be a prostate infection. The typical signs and symptoms of acute prostatitis include spiking fever, chills, malaise, myalgia, dysuria (pain on urination), pelvic or perineal pain, and cloudy urine. Swelling of the acutely inflamed prostate can cause obstructive symptoms, ranging from dribbling and hesitancy to anuria (unable to urinate).  

Without examining you I cannot comment on whether this is cancer or not.

2) The first diagnostic test would be a digital rectal exam to evaluate the prostate.  The digital rectal examination should be performed in a gentle fashion; vigorous examination and prostate massage should be avoided, since it is painful, offers no additional information or therapeutic benefit over gentle examination.

A urine culture should be obtained in all men suspected of having acute prostatitis; Gram stain of the urine, if positive, can be used as a guide to initial therapy. Confirmatory laboratory findings include pyuria (bacteria in the urine), positive urine and occasionally blood cultures, and leukocytosis (elevated white blood count).

An increased serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels is also consistent with a diagnosis of acute prostatitis.

Other considerations may include the following conditions:
Urethral stricture
Bladder neck contracture
Carcinoma of the prostate
Carcinoma of the bladder
Bladder calculi
Urinary tract infection
Neurogenic bladder

Again, I strongly suggest a physical exam with your personal physician.  If the findings are consistent with an infected prostate, antibiotics are indicated.

I stress that this answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[silverstanger]

would you run fever with an infected prostate??

[kevinmd]

Since prostatitis is an infectious process, a fever would be a consistent symptom (see above).

Kevin, M.D.