Lord David Cameron, the former Prime Minister, has publicly disclosed that he was diagnosed with and successfully treated for prostate cancer within the last year.
The revelation has prompted the senior political figure to throw his weight behind calls for a targeted screening programme for the disease, which is the most common cancer among men in the United Kingdom.
Understanding Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer develops when cells in the prostate gland, a small organ located below the bladder, begin to grow uncontrollably. This type of cancer typically progresses slowly over many years.
Signs of the disease often do not become apparent until the prostate has enlarged enough to affect the tube that carries urine out of the body, known as the urethra. In the UK, approximately 55,000 men receive a prostate cancer diagnosis annually.
Recognising the Symptoms and Risk Factors
The most frequent symptoms men should be aware of include needing to urinate more frequently, especially at night, and experiencing difficulty or straining when beginning to urinate. A feeling that the bladder has not fully emptied is also common.
It is crucial to note that these symptoms can be caused by non-cancerous conditions, such as an enlarged prostate, but any man experiencing them should consult his GP for a proper assessment.
While the exact causes remain unknown, several risk factors have been identified. The likelihood of developing prostate cancer increases significantly with age, particularly after 50. Family history is another key factor; having a father or brother with the disease raises an individual's risk.
For reasons still being investigated by scientists, black men are at a higher risk, while Asian men have a lower risk. Obesity is also a known contributing factor.
Diagnosis and Treatment Pathways
Doctors employ a range of methods to diagnose prostate cancer. These can include a physical examination of the prostate (a digital rectal examination or DRE), a blood test to measure Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) levels, an MRI scan, and a biopsy.
The PSA test looks for a specific protein in the blood. Elevated levels can indicate a prostate condition, but it is not a definitive test for cancer, which is why it is not currently used for routine NHS screening. However, any man over 50 can request a PSA test from his GP.
Treatment options vary depending on the cancer's stage and aggressiveness. For early-stage, slow-growing cancers that are not causing symptoms, doctors may recommend 'active surveillance' or 'watchful waiting', which involves careful monitoring.
More active treatments include surgically removing the prostate, radiotherapy (sometimes combined with hormone therapy), and focal therapies that use targeted energy to destroy cancer cells. If the cancer has spread, it may be managed with hormone therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination, which can help control the disease and extend life.
Lord Cameron's successful treatment and subsequent advocacy highlight the importance of awareness and early detection in the fight against this prevalent disease.
