5 min read
The short answer: waking at night to urinate and a weaker stream are usually caused by an enlarged prostate (BPH), which is not cancer — but they are not something you must simply accept as 'normal ageing', and they are worth getting checked.
As the prostate grows with age, it can press on the tube that carries urine out of the bladder. The result can be a weaker stream, difficulty starting, dribbling at the end, and needing to go more often — including at night.
Many men in the Caribbean put these symptoms down to age and wait years before mentioning them. That delay is common, but it means living with poor sleep and discomfort that is often very treatable.
These same symptoms occasionally have other causes, which is one reason assessment matters. An enlarged prostate (BPH) and prostate cancer are different conditions; having BPH does not mean you have cancer, but only an assessment can tell the difference.
A specialist assessment starts with a conversation about your symptoms and may include a blood test and other checks. Treatment ranges from simple medication to procedures, depending on how much the symptoms affect you.
If you are waking more than once or twice a night, or your stream has noticeably weakened, that is a good reason to request an appointment rather than wait.