Why is prostate cancer a problem?
- It occurs in the prostate, a gland that sits below the bladder and produces fluid for semen.
- It’s the second highest cause of cancer death in men. 4000 are diagnosed a year, and 700 men die a year.
- Over time the number of people being diagnosed, and death rate is dropping due to increased testing.
- If you are diagnosed: 90% of men are alive after 5 years, and 90% alive after 10 years due to early treatment, and sometimes the cancer is slow growing.
Are there symptoms that can indicate prostate cancer?
Things to look out for:
- A need to urinate urgently, difficulty with getting started and weak urine stream, dribbling after finish, blood in the urine.
- However, these can be due to other ‘benign’ prostate problems:
- BPH – Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy: the prostate getting larger with age, but it’s not cancerous
- Prostatitis: an infection of the prostate
If you notice any of these symptoms you need to talk to your GP.
Should we be doing anything to check for prostate cancer?
- Yes. From the age of 50 years, talk to your doctor about a two-yearly prostate check.
- If you have a family history —father, brother— then you may need to start earlier at 40 years.
- The check is very simple: a blood test called a PSA and quick rectal examination to feel for the size of the prostate.
If a problem is detected what are the treatments?
- If the blood test indicates a possible problem, then more tests are done: further bloods, possible MRI scan, a biopsy of the prostate to look for cancer.
- If cancer is detected there are four main approaches:
- Watch and wait: because the cancer is early and is considered low risk, slow growing, and may not cause a problem.
- Radiotherapy to destroy the cancer.
- Prostatectomy: where an operation is preformed to remove the prostate.
- Hormone injections that shrink and control the cancer.
Like all cancers can be treated if found early: if you are 50, a man, visit your GP and discuss a prostate check!
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