A leading nurse urology specialist at NCIC is urging men to seek help if they are experiencing symptoms of Prostate Cancer.
Brian Walker, Urology Nurse Specialist at NCIC, issued the advice during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, which takes place each year in March.
He said: “The prostate is a gland. It is usually the size and shape of a walnut and grows bigger as you get older. It sits underneath the bladder and surrounds the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine (wee) out of the body. The prostate's main job is to help make semen – the fluid that carries sperm.
“A man’s prostate usually grows larger after the age of 50 years old and this normal enlargement called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) can cause problems with passing urine namely the need to pass urine more frequently and a reduced urinary flow which can cause an increase in the need to urinate - especially at night.
“Symptoms of prostate cancer can also mimic this and putting the above symptoms together with an abnormal prostate examination and an elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA) through a blood test, can be a trigger for the need to organise other investigations such as an MRI scan of the prostate and then subsequent prostate biopsies if required.
“Prostate cancer does not usually cause any symptoms until the cancer has grown large enough to put pressure on the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the penis (urethra). Symptoms of prostate cancer can include needing to pee more frequently, often during the night and needing to rush to the toilet.”
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK with more than 52,000 men diagnosed each year.
Mr Walker added: Prostate cancer can develop when cells in the prostate start to grow in an uncontrolled way and early detection is essential to try and offer them a cure if possible.
“Some prostate cancer grows too slowly to cause any problems or affect how long you live. Because of this, some men with prostate cancer may never need any treatment.
“But some prostate cancer grows quickly and is more likely to spread this is more likely to cause problems and needs treatment to stop it spreading.
“Prostate cancer mainly affects men over 50, and your risk increases with age. Experts say the risk is even higher for black men and men with a family history of prostate cancer.”
Mr Walker issued some advice for anyone who has concerns.
He said: “Anyone who is worried that they may have prostate cancer should contact their GP in the first instance. Prostate cancer is much easier to treat if it is caught early.”
Tests will also be available at Carlisle United in June. These tests, which involve a pain-free blood test, will take place at Brunton Park on Saturday, June 17 between 11am and 3pm.
The Blues join a number of EFL clubs and non-league clubs that are using their stadiums as bases for the tests that are part of the The Barry Kilby Prostate Cancer Appeal.
Eighty test places have been allocated to Brunton Park with each test costing £10.
Community manager James Tose said: "We’ve been looking to host this facility for a while and we’re delighted that it’s now come to fruition.
"Here at the club we know how important it is for people to check themselves, get tested, and set aside any fears they have to look after themselves.
"If having this testing facility here helps with that, then that’s just fantastic.
"Cancer in all its forms can go unnoticed for weeks, months, even years in some cases, and prostate cancer is so much easier to treat if men catch it early.
"All I will say is that I hope people make use of it or, if they don’t want to use this testing facility, they book themselves in through their own doctor to get tested anyway. It really can save lives."
Facts about prostate cancer
- The Incidence rates for prostate cancer in the UK are highest in males aged 75 to 79
- It is predicted that almost 8 in 10 (77.6%) of men diagnosed with prostate cancer in England survive their disease for ten years or more (2013-2017).
- There are around 11,900 prostate cancer deaths in the UK every year, (2016-2018)
- A person’s risk of developing cancer depends on many factors, including age, genetics, and exposure to risk factors (including some potentially avoidable lifestyle factors).
- 1 in 6 UK males will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
- Prostate cancer is not clearly linked to any preventable risk factors
- Most men will die with the disease rather than from it.