Home / Myth Busters / Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer myths,
answered with evidence.
ప్రోస్టేట్ క్యాన్సర్ – అపోహలు, నిజాలు
Prostate cancer ranges from slow-growing cancers that may never cause harm to aggressive ones that need prompt treatment. This series clears up myths about PSA testing, urinary symptoms, biopsy, treatment choices, sexual health and life after treatment.
When to see a doctor
Symptoms that need a doctor's check
- A weak urine stream, or difficulty starting or stopping
- Needing to pass urine often, especially at night
- Blood in the urine or semen
- New pain in the back, hips or pelvis that doesn't settle
- Unexplained weight loss or tiredness
Sudden or severe symptoms need emergency care: go to the nearest emergency department or call 108.
20 myths · Updated October 2026
Causes and risk
Only very elderly men get prostate cancer?
బాగా వయసు మళ్లిన మగవాళ్లకు మాత్రమే ప్రోస్టేట్ క్యాన్సర్ వస్తుందా?The risk rises with age, especially after 50, but prostate cancer can also occur in younger men.
Read the factsMyth #02 · Causes & riskIf nobody in my family has had prostate cancer, I can't get it?
మా కుటుంబంలో ఎవరికీ ప్రోస్టేట్ క్యాన్సర్ లేకపోతే నాకు రాదా?Most prostate cancers occur in men with no family history. A family history or an inherited gene change, such as BRCA2, raises the risk.
Read the factsMyth #03 · Causes & riskProstate cancer is caused by too much sexual activity or masturbation?
ఎక్కువ లైంగిక చర్య లేదా హస్తప్రయోగం వల్ల ప్రోస్టేట్ క్యాన్సర్ వస్తుందా?There is no convincing evidence that sexual activity or masturbation causes prostate cancer.
Read the factsMyth #04 · Causes & riskA healthy diet and regular exercise completely prevent prostate cancer?
ఆరోగ్యకరమైన ఆహారం, క్రమం తప్పని వ్యాయామం ప్రోస్టేట్ క్యాన్సర్‌ను పూర్తిగా నివారిస్తాయా?Healthy habits support overall health, but they cannot eliminate the risk of prostate cancer.
Read the factsMyth #05 · Causes & riskProstate cancer is always a fast-growing, fatal disease?
ప్రోస్టేట్ క్యాన్సర్ ఎప్పుడూ వేగంగా పెరిగే, ప్రాణాంతక జబ్బేనా?Many prostate cancers grow very slowly, while some are aggressive. The outlook depends on the grade, stage, PSA level and other factors.
Read the factsSymptoms, PSA and early detection
Prostate cancer always causes urinary problems?
ప్రోస్టేట్ క్యాన్సర్ ఎప్పుడూ మూత్ర సమస్యలు తెస్తుందా?Early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms at all. Urinary problems are much more often caused by a harmless enlargement of the prostate (BPH).
Read the factsMyth #07 · Symptoms & PSAFrequent urination or a weak urine stream means prostate cancer?
తరచుగా మూత్రం రావడం లేదా ధార బలహీనంగా ఉండటం అంటే ప్రోస్టేట్ క్యాన్సరేనా?These symptoms are usually caused by an enlarged prostate (BPH) or other non-cancerous conditions. They need checking, but they don't mean cancer.
Read the factsMyth #08 · Symptoms & PSAA normal PSA test completely rules out prostate cancer?
పీఎస్‌ఏ పరీక్ష నార్మల్ వస్తే ప్రోస్టేట్ క్యాన్సర్ పూర్తిగా లేనట్లేనా?Prostate cancer can be present even when the PSA level is relatively low. PSA helps assess risk; it can't rule cancer out completely.
Read the factsMyth #09 · Symptoms & PSAA raised PSA always means prostate cancer?
పీఎస్‌ఏ పెరిగితే ఎప్పుడూ ప్రోస్టేట్ క్యాన్సరేనా?PSA can rise because of an enlarged prostate, inflammation or infection of the prostate, a urine infection, urine retention or a recent procedure.
Read the factsMyth #10 · Symptoms & PSAEvery man should have a PSA test every year, whatever his age?
వయసు ఏదైనా, ప్రతి మగవాడూ ఏటా పీఎస్‌ఏ పరీక్ష చేయించుకోవాలా?PSA testing should be an individual decision, made with your doctor, based on age, health, risk factors and personal preferences.
Read the factsDiagnosis and treatment decisions
A prostate biopsy makes cancer spread?
ప్రోస్టేట్ బయాప్సీ వల్ల క్యాన్సర్ వ్యాపిస్తుందా?Spread of cancer from a prostate biopsy is exceptionally rare. A biopsy is important to confirm cancer and find out how aggressive it is.
Read the factsMyth #12 · Diagnosis & treatmentEvery prostate cancer needs treatment straight away?
ప్రతి ప్రోస్టేట్ క్యాన్సర్‌కూ వెంటనే చికిత్స అవసరమా?Many men with low-risk prostate cancer can safely choose active surveillance: careful, structured monitoring, with treatment only if the cancer changes.
Read the factsMyth #13 · Diagnosis & treatmentSurgery is the only treatment that can cure prostate cancer?
ప్రోస్టేట్ క్యాన్సర్‌ను నయం చేయగల చికిత్స ఆపరేషన్ ఒక్కటేనా?Both surgery to remove the prostate and radiotherapy are established treatments that can cure prostate cancer that hasn't spread.
Read the factsMyth #14 · Diagnosis & treatmentRadiotherapy always causes permanent incontinence and impotence?
రేడియోథెరపీ ఎప్పుడూ శాశ్వతంగా మూత్రం ఆపుకోలేకపోవడం, నపుంసకత్వం తెస్తుందా?Urinary, bowel and sexual side effects can happen, but the risk varies, and severe permanent problems are not inevitable.
Read the factsMyth #15 · Diagnosis & treatmentRobotic surgery guarantees better cancer control than radiotherapy or standard surgery?
రోబోటిక్ ఆపరేషన్ రేడియోథెరపీ లేదా మామూలు ఆపరేషన్ కంటే మెరుగైన క్యాన్సర్ అదుపుకు హామీ ఇస్తుందా?Robotic surgery does not guarantee better cancer control. Results depend on the cancer, the surgeon's experience and choosing the right treatment.
Read the factsAdvanced disease, sexual health and survivorship
Removing the prostate always makes a man permanently impotent?
ప్రోస్టేట్ తీసేస్తే మగవాడు ఎప్పుడూ శాశ్వతంగా నపుంసకుడవుతాడా?Erection problems are a recognised risk after surgery, but recovery varies with age, erections before surgery, whether the nerves could be spared, and rehabilitation.
Read the factsMyth #17 · Advanced disease & survivorshipHormone therapy means taking testosterone to improve strength?
హార్మోన్ చికిత్స అంటే బలం కోసం టెస్టోస్టిరాన్ తీసుకోవడమా?Hormone therapy for prostate cancer does the opposite: it lowers testosterone, or blocks its effect, because prostate cancer uses testosterone to grow.
Read the factsMyth #18 · Advanced disease & survivorshipIf prostate cancer has spread to the bones, treatment is useless?
ప్రోస్టేట్ క్యాన్సర్ ఎముకలకు పాకితే చికిత్స వల్ల ఉపయోగం లేదా?Prostate cancer that has spread is treatable, with hormone therapy, newer hormone tablets, chemotherapy, radioactive medicines and other approaches. Many men live for years.
Read the factsMyth #19 · Advanced disease & survivorshipOnce PSA becomes undetectable after treatment, prostate cancer can never come back?
చికిత్స తర్వాత పీఎస్‌ఏ కనిపించనంతగా తగ్గితే ప్రోస్టేట్ క్యాన్సర్ ఇక ఎప్పుడూ రాదా?Prostate cancer can still return. Regular PSA tests are important after both surgery and radiotherapy, though the results are read differently after each.
Read the factsMyth #20 · Advanced disease & survivorshipMen can't live active, fulfilling lives after prostate cancer treatment?
ప్రోస్టేట్ క్యాన్సర్ చికిత్స తర్వాత మగవారు చురుకైన, సంతృప్తికరమైన జీవితం గడపలేరా?Many men return to work, exercise and normal daily life. Urinary, sexual, bone and metabolic health may need ongoing attention.
Read the facts