By Matthew Schmitz, MD
Medically reviewed by Doru Paul, MD Updated on January 17, 2020

Both prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) can cause an enlarged prostate, but beyond causing common symptoms, the similarities end there.

During your yearly physical, your doctor might do a rectal exam or request you get a blood test to check your prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level checked. If your prostate is enlarged or your PSA test comes back high, your doctor may do a biopsy to determine if your abnormal results are caused by prostate cancer or BPH. Here's what you need to know about the two conditions and their similarities and differences.

Understanding Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United States, with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancer, and typically affects older men.1 Prostate cancer occurs due to uncontrolled growth of prostate cancer cells. Doctors aren't sure what exactly causes these cells to develop and grow, though.2

During the physical examination of your prostate, if you have prostate cancer, your doctor might notice that your prostate feels nodular or bumpy as well as firm and enlarged. Your blood tests will also show a higher PSA and alkaline phosphatase.

Prostate cancer can affect any part of the prostate, but it is usually the lateral lobes, the sides of the prostate, that are affected. In advanced cases, prostate cancer can spread to the bones, but usually only travels to areas within the pelvis.3

Common early symptoms of prostate cancer include increased urinary frequency, hesitancy, dribbling, and frequent nighttime urination.2 How your prostate cancer is treated depends on how aggressive your cancer is as well as your overall health. Treatment can range from close monitoring to surgery, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy or a number of other less common options.