On the hour, every hour...
Up to 12,000 men die of prostate cancer every year. It's the most common cancer in men in the UK.
Worryingly, 70% of UK adults don't know what the prostate does.
Dr Frank Chinegwundoh is a leading Consultant Urological Surgeon who specialises in prostate cancer. He says it is as common in men, as breast cancer is in women and so men need to become more prostate aware. He wants to see more men come forward for check up's.
http://www.urologyconsultant.co.uk
RISK FACTORS
Age
The risks of developing prostate cancer increases with age. Men over the age of 50 are advised to have a yearly prostate check.
Family history
It is estimated that up to 10% of all prostate cancer cases and 30-40% of those where the patient is aged under 55 are caused by inherited genes. A person's risk is more than doubled in cases where an immediate relative has been diagnosed - this can reach four times the average if the relative is under 60 at the age of diagnosis, or if more than one relative is affected. A strong family history of breast cancer can also affect a man’s risk of prostate cancer, particularly if the family members were diagnosed under the age of 60.
Ethnicity
Those of African and African Carribean origin are at a greater risk. In the UK, the risk factor of these ethnic groups is double or triple that of white men, while Asian men generally have a lower risk than the national average.
SYMPTOMS
Dificulties urinating can be an indicator of prostate cancer.
Dr Frank Chinegwundoh explains that “Because of the position of the prostate sitting underneath the bladder can affect the way a man passes his urine and the kind of problems might notice is difficulty in getting started to pass his flow, the stream can be slow, he can go often, he may have to get up at night a few times, he may find that it takes a long time to expel the urine from his bladder, he may find he’s not emptying the bladder properly so he’s going often.”
However, there are no specific symptoms in the early stage of prostate cancer and so healthcare professionals advise all men over the age of 50 to undergo regular check-ups.
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
Diagnosis of prostate cancer is made by PSA blood test. This looks for a level of the chemical produced by the prostate which is above average and as such indicative of the cancer.
A rectal examination and prostate biopsy will then follow, and on occasions a CT or MRI scan might be needed to see whether the cancer has spread. Although surgery is one course of action, a new technique called Brachytherapy, is achieving high levels of success in the treatment of prostate cancer. This technique uses radiation, contained in small pellets, which are implanted into the prostate and give off radiation over a very short distance. The patient would be anaesthetised but would be treated as a 'day case.' Side effects tend to be short term, and can be counteracted with tablets.
Related Links:
www.thepcrf.org.
www.urologyconsultant.co.uk
www.cancerblackcare.org
www.prostate-cancer.org.uk
www.cancerbackup.org.uk
