Prostate cancer can only be differentiated from benign prostatic hypertrophy by using modern medical investigations. Benign prostatic hypertrophy occurs when the prostate gland enlarges and puts pressure on the bladder and urethra (the urinary outflow tract from the bladder). In TCM and western medicine, there are no big differences between prostate cancer and benign prostatic hypertrophy symptoms. Likewise, the TCM tongue and pulse signs are similar for both conditions. However, benign prostatic hypertrophy, while able to cause significant discomfort and put dangerous backpressure on the kidney, is not a form of cancer and does not metastasize (spread to other parts of the body). Features of the TCM syndromes associated with prostate cancer are:

Kidney Yang Deficiency 
Symptoms: No urination or dripping urination, hesitant urine, fatigue, low back and knee pain, cold pain, cold aversion, cold extremities, craving warmth, diarrhea, pale tongue, moist coating, deep and thin pulse.

Qi & Yin Deficiency 
Symptoms: Urine progressively becomes thinner, no urine, pale complexion, anemia, fatigue, palpitations, dizziness, low appetite, whole body pain, hectic fever, night sweating, red or pale tongue, less or no coating, thin and fast pulse

Damp Heat Stagnation
Symptoms: Hesitant, thin or no urine, blood in urine, distending pain in genitals, bitter taste in mouth, dry throat, fever, red tongue, yellow greasy coating, smooth and fast pulse

Stagnation of Qi & Blood 
Symptoms: Dripping or blocked urination, low abdominal/back pain, genital pain, difficulty moving, anxiety, dark purple tongue or petechia on tongue, unsmooth pulse