Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
15th March
We know that cancer affects many people in the UK but do you know which type of cancer is the most common in men?
The answer is prostate cancer, and it is estimated that one man dies every hour because of it in the UK. In fact, it is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in UK men after lung cancer.
What’s more, almost 60 per cent of prostate cancer cases are diagnosed in men aged over 70 years, but it is important to emphasise that the vast majority - more than three quarters - of men who are diagnosed with it now survive the disease beyond five years.
With that in mind it feels appropriate to talk about Prostate Cancer Awareness Month which is happening throughout March with a campaign entitled: “Don’t Let Prostate Cancer Hide.”
Symptoms of prostate cancer include a weak or reduced urine flow, and needing to go to the loo more often in the night. If your GP thinks you might have prostate cancer they will carry out a simple urine or blood test.
Below is a list of “risk factors” for prostate cancer, but before that it’s worth noting that, if diagnosed early, it can be treated successfully, and Spire Bristol Hospital offers a range of treatments including pioneering green light laser and keyhole surgery, all of which have been successful in combating the disease.
As a hospital we are sponsoring Run for the Future, a charity event organised by the Bristol Urological Institute and backed by TV personality Carol Vorderman which aims to raise awareness of prostate cancer.
This event takes place in September, and it would be great if you could get involved by either running yourself, or sponsoring someone you know. Please do all you can to support Prostate Cancer Awareness Month to stop this disease, which kills so many people every year, from being “the hidden cancer”.
Some risk factors for prostate cancer:
Age – this is the strongest factor with very low risk to men aged under 50, but an increasing risk thereafter
Close relatives – if you have a close relative (father, brother, son) diagnosed with prostate cancer there is a much higher risk of you developing the disease
Ethnicity – West African and Caribbean-descent men have a higher risk of prostate cancer than white men, and men born in Asia have a lower risk of the disease than men born in the UK.
In short, if you are at all concerned, go to your GP and get yourself checked out.