Pelvic pain can bring fear about cancer into many men. Certainly, pelvic pain that won’t go away should never be ignored.
Pelvic pain in men has many possible causes. The older a man is, the more concerning persistent pelvic pain will be.
This is because being over 50 brings with it an increased likelihood of prostate problems, including cancer.
But even a younger man may find himself wondering about prostate cancer, especially if he has a family history or has recently come upon an awareness campaign.
Prostate cancer can cause pelvic pain. But remember, many benign conditions can, too.
The big thing to pay mind to is if the pain is persistent.
Ask yourself if there are other new symptoms that seem to be related, such as back pain, leg pain, unexplained weight loss, fatigue and difficulty ejaculating.
Do you feel a lump in your genital area that was never there before?
Have you recently changed your workout and perhaps your pelvic muscles are just sore? Muscle soreness from a workout should be gone within several days.
Pelvic Pain and Cancer in Men
If you’re a typical man who leads an active lifestyle, there is some comforting news about your discomfort in the pelvic area.
“Rest assured: For most healthy men, cancer isn’t in the ‘top 10’ most likely causes of pelvic pain,” says Kiarash Michel, MD, a urologic oncological surgeon with Cedars Sinai who specializes in robotic surgery, and is cofounder of MDbio, a plant-based medicine company.
“The nature and location of pelvic pain, certain lifestyle risks and the other symptoms a patient is experiencing all factor into the course of action a doctor may take to reach a reasonable diagnosis,” continues Dr. Michel.
What will get a urologist’s attention are the following symptoms:
• Difficulty with urination
• Weaker force in the urine stream
• Pinkish or reddish urine from blood
• Increased urinary frequency without increased water intake
• Blood in the semen
• Erectile dysfunction
• Pus-like or clear discharge from the penis
• Unexplained pain elsewhere, especially if it seems to be coming from bones rather than muscles.
• Nausea
• Fever
“Discomfort while urinating, by itself, is a common symptom shared by multiple conditions (UTIs, STIs, bacterial prostatitis),” says Dr. Michel.
“Accurate diagnosis, and treatment, is contingent on a variety of other factors including a physical exam, labs and possibly imaging.
“It’s always important that an individual talk with their doctor about chronic pelvic pain.”
Additional Non-Malignant Causes of Pelvic Pain in Men
• Non-bacterial prostatitis
• Cystitis (inflamed bladder)
• Urinary stones
• Urethral stricture (narrowing)
• Hernia
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Appendicitis
Sudden-onset, severe pelvic pain is extremely unlikely to be from prostate cancer. However, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go to the ER, either.
Never think, “This can’t be cancer; therefore there’s no need to see a doctor right away.”
Dr. Michel is a leading physician in prostate cancer therapy, urological cancers, benign prostatic hyperplasia, female urology, urinary disorders, incontinence, erectile dysfunction, stone diseases and anti-aging. MDbio provides safe non-pharmaceutical alternatives to maximizing overall health and wellbeing.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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