Prostate Cancer UK is urging men across the UK to take a quick online quiz to check their risk of prostate cancer, the most common cancer in men. The 30-second risk checker consists of four questions designed to help men understand whether they could be at higher risk and what steps they might want to consider next.
Sir Chris Hoy's warning
One famous face who has spoken out about prostate cancer is Sir Chris Hoy. The Scottish Olympic legend has stage 4 prostate cancer and previously said that he initially brushed off a warning sign as "getting older".
In a BBC documentary, Sir Chris Hoy: Cancer, Courage and Me, he recalled: "It was the summer of 2023, I had a pain in my shoulder and just assumed it was a sign of getting older. Aches and pains, as you expect."
With that in mind, it's vital that men stay alert to any changes in their body. If they notice any new lumps, bumps or symptoms that worry them, they should get checked out as early as possible.
The four questions
Prostate Cancer UK says: "It's the most common cancer in men, but the earlier you find it, the easier it is to treat. Answer four quick questions to check your risk." The charity adds that "if you're a trans woman or non-binary, your risk may be different" and asks people to read their information for trans or non-binary people instead.
The questions are: "How old are you?" with a range of ages to select from; "Has your father or brother had prostate cancer?" with yes or no; "Black men are more at risk of prostate cancer. Do you have Black or mixed Black ethnicity?" with yes or no; and "Some men have rare variations in their BRCA genes that increase their risk of prostate cancer. Have you, or your parents or siblings ever been told that you have a variant in a BRCA gene?" with yes or no.
Low and high risk results
Once each question is answered, the checker assesses risk. For a low-risk result, it may read: "You're currently at low risk of getting prostate cancer. You don't currently have any of the main risk factors for prostate cancer, but 1 in 8 men will get it in their lifetime." It stresses: "You can still get prostate cancer even if you don't have any of the risk factors." So, if you notice changes in how you wee, or if it becomes painful, it's important to get it checked by a GP.
For a higher-risk result, it will say: "You're at a higher risk of getting prostate cancer" and explain why, based on the answers. For example, if you answer yes to the BRCA gene question, it explains: "If you have a BRCA gene variant you have a high risk of getting aggressive prostate cancer. These variations are found in roughly 1 in 300-400 people but are more common in some groups of people, such as people with Jewish heritage. It's recommended that some groups of men with BRCA gene variations are invited for prostate cancer screening."
Prostate Cancer UK says it understands that it can feel like a lot to take in, especially if the Risk Checker suggests you may be at higher risk. For those who get a high-risk result, the charity offers the option to receive an email with their Risk Checker outcome, along with a free practical guide. This includes what to ask a GP and links to other helpful resources. If you wish to receive it, just enter your email.
What is prostate cancer?
According to Cancer Research UK: "Prostate cancer is cancer of the prostate gland, a gland at the base of the bladder. It is the most common cancer in men in the UK. Most prostate cancers start in the outer gland cells of the prostate. They are called acinar adenocarcinomas. Many of these cancers grow extremely slowly and are not likely to spread. But some can grow more quickly."
The NHS says prostate cancer often causes no symptoms at first. But as it grows or spreads, it can affect the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis, leading to changes in how you pee. This could mean you experience: finding it difficult to start peeing or straining to pee, having a weak flow of urine, "stop start" peeing, needing to pee urgently or often, or both, feeling like you still need to pee when you've just finished, and peeing during the night.
Other symptoms can include: erectile dysfunction (being unable to get or keep an erection), blood in your urine or blood in your semen, and lower back pain and losing weight without trying to (these may be symptoms of advanced prostate cancer).
