How Prostatitis Differs from Prostate Cancer

Prostatitis and prostate cancer affect many adult men at some point during their lives, but they are entirely different conditions.

According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, prostatitis is inflammation and tenderness in the prostate gland and it is a painful condition that affects an estimated 50 percent of all men during their lifetimes.

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The most common symptom of chronic prostatitis is pain in the perineum, or area between the scrotum and anus. Other symptoms include painful ejaculation, pain in the low back, painful urination, and blood in the urine.

There are four types of prostatitis, according to Prostate Cancer UK, including the most common type, chronic pelvic pain syndrome, acute bacterial prostatitis, chronic bacterial prostatitis, and asymptomatic prostatitis.

Of these four types, all but chronic pelvic pain syndrome are caused by a bacterial infection that can be treated if needed by a course of antibiotics. As for chronic pelvic pain syndrome, the causes are many and poorly understood, making it difficult to diagnose.

Besides skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most prevalent cancer in men, said the National Cancer Institute.

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It is almost always characterized as adenocarcinomas, which means the cancer cells begin growing in cells that secrete mucous or fluids.

At its earliest stages, prostate cancer has no noticeable symptoms, but as it progresses, men may notice a weak urine stream or an increased frequency of urination. This cancer grows slowly, and most men do not die from it as long as they are treated.

The Prostate Cancer Foundation stressed that while prostatitis isn’t always completely curable, it is treatable. It also asserted that it is a benign (noncancerous) condition that does not cause prostate cancer.

However, in an article published by urologist Dr. Ronald Wheeler, director of Prostatitis and Prostate Cancer Center, he said findings from many studies showed that all cases of prostate cancer also involve symptoms of prostatitis.

The Prostate Cancer Foundation says that more research is needed to confirm whether or not chronic inflammation of the prostate can eventually increase the risk of prostate cancer.

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