Prostate Cancer
What is the prostate gland?
Only men have a prostate gland. The prostate is usually the shape and size of a walnut. It lies underneath the bladder and surrounds the tube (urethra) that men pass urine and semen through. The prostate gland’s main job is to make most of the fluid that carries sperm, called semen.
What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. In the UK, 35,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year. Prostate cancer can develop when cells in the prostate gland start to grow in an uncontrolled way. In most cases this is a slow growing cancer that men will be unaware of throughout their lifetime because it may never cause any symptoms or problems. However, some men will have a fast growing cancer that needs treatment to prevent or delay it spreading outside the prostate gland.
Risk factors
Prostate cancer mainly affects men over the age of 50. Younger men can be affected but this is rare. The risk of developing prostate cancer rises with age. Your risk also increases if a close family member (father or brother) has prostate cancer. The risk increases further if more than one close relative has prostate cancer, or if your relative was under the age of 60 when they were diagnosed. In the UK, African Caribbean men are three times more likely to develop prostate cancer than white men.
No one knows how to prevent prostate cancer but diet and a healthy lifestyle may be important in protecting against the disease. If you would like more information, you can read The Prostate Cancer Charity’s diet and prostate cancer information booklet.
Symptoms
The following symptoms may show that you have a problem with your prostate. However, most men with early prostate cancer have no symptoms at all. These symptoms can also be caused by other prostate problems that are nothing to do with prostate cancer.
• A weak or reduced urine flow
• Needing to urinate more often, especially at night
• A feeling that your bladder has not emptied properly
• Difficulty starting to pass urine
• Dribbling urine
• Needing to rush to the toilet – you may occasionally leak urine before you get there
Less common symptoms include:
• Pain when passing urine
• Pain when ejaculating
• Pain in the testicles
• New pain in the lower back, hips or pelvis
• Problems getting or keeping an erection
• Blood in the urine or semen – but this is rare.
Some men with prostate cancer may have no symptoms at all.
If you have any of these symptoms, you should visit your GP to find out what is causing the problem. For more information, speak in confidence to one of The Prostate Cancer Charity’s specialist nurses on 0800 074 8383
Additional Reading:
The Prostate Cancer Charity produces a range of award- winning, independently reviewed publications that you can view and order online.
