Prostate cancer, the most common cancer among men in the UK, claims 33 lives daily across the country, and experts are urging men to assess their risk rather than wait for symptoms that often do not appear until the disease has advanced.
Around 68,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK each year, according to Cancer Research UK, making it the most prevalent cancer in men. The disease is the second leading cause of cancer death nationally, with 12,300 male deaths annually, even though four in five people who develop it survive for a decade or more.
Why early detection is difficult
One of the main challenges with prostate cancer is that it frequently has no symptoms in its early stages. Dr Jiri Kubes, medical director at the Proton Therapy Centre in Prague, said: "One of the biggest challenges with prostate cancer is that men can feel perfectly well while the disease is developing. Waiting until something feels wrong is not necessarily the best approach, particularly for men who already have recognised risk factors."
The NHS notes that prostate cancer usually starts on the outer part of the prostate, so it does not press on the urethra and cause symptoms until the cancer has grown or spread.
Key risk factors to know
Dr Kubes highlights three crucial risk factors: age, ethnicity and family history. The risk of prostate cancer rises substantially after the age of 50. Men of Black African or Black Caribbean descent face a higher risk and are more prone to developing the condition at a younger age. Having a father or brother with prostate cancer also increases likelihood.
A family history of breast or ovarian cancer may also be significant due to inherited genetic changes. According to Prostate Cancer UK, about one in eight men will develop the disease in their lifetime, rising to one in four for Black men.
Dr Kubes advised: "Knowing your family history is particularly important. If your father or brother has had prostate cancer, or there is a history of certain cancers in your family, it is worth discussing this with your doctor, even if you have no symptoms yourself."
Symptoms to monitor
When prostate cancer does cause symptoms, they can include difficulty starting urination, a weak urine flow, "stop start" peeing, needing to urinate urgently or often, feeling like the bladder is not empty, and urinating during the night. Other signs may include erectile dysfunction, blood in urine or semen, and lower back pain or weight loss without trying, which can indicate advanced cancer.
Dr Kubes said symptoms such as difficulty passing urine, a more frequent need to urinate or blood in the urine should always be investigated, though they can also be caused by non-cancerous conditions, and their absence does not rule out prostate cancer.
When to see a GP
Men concerned about their risk can speak with a GP to determine whether a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test is suitable. The test measures a protein produced by the prostate gland. A raised result does not necessarily mean cancer is present, but it may lead to further assessment, including an MRI scan or biopsy.
Dr Kubes said: "The important thing is for men to be informed, rather than frightened. Understanding your personal risk and discussing the options with a medical professional gives you the opportunity to make decisions about your health based on evidence, rather than waiting for symptoms to appear."
Knowing who faces greater susceptibility can enable men to make well-informed choices about screening and ensure concerns are addressed before symptoms prompt them to seek medical attention.
