Prostate cancer symptoms can often be mistaken for an enlarged prostate and signs don’t usually show until the cancer has grown. So what can you do to check if you have the disease and when should you get a test to see if you require treatment?
Prostate cancer awareness has been bigger than ever over the last few weeks with news that Stephen Fry and ex-BBC presenter Bill Turnbull have been battling the disease.
In 2015 there were 47, 151 new diagnosis of prostate cancer, which equates to approximately 170 new cases per 100,000 men.
The prostate sits underneath the bladder and is wrapped around the urethra, the tube that carries urine to the outside world.
So an increase in the size of the prostate will press on the urethra and make it harder for men to pass urine, and this is one of the first signs you could have prostate cancer.
But Dr Sam Rodgers, GP and Medical Director at Medichecks, says the problem is that all men will experience an innocent increase in the size of their prostate as they get older, so the symptoms that suggest prostate cancer can also be caused by an innocent enlargement of the prostate (benign prostatic hypertrophy).
He said: “Thinking about the stages we go through when we pass urine will help to explain the symptoms to look out for. Firstly, it may be difficult for a man to start passing urine, as the muscles of the bladder have to overcome the increased resistance from the enlarged prostate. So having to wait for a while until the urine starts flowing could be a sign of prostate enlargement.
“Then once the urine is flowing a man might notice that the flow isn’t as fast as before, or that it stops and starts. Once he has finished passing urine then there may be problems dribbling, so men may notice that they have to shake for longer than they used to to ensure there is no leakage of urine.
“The bladder may not be able to empty itself completely, which means that it will take less time for it to fill up again, this can make men feel like they have to pass urine again more quickly than they used to. The same mechanism can cause more frequent trips to the toilet overnight.”
When should you get tested?Prostate Cancer UK recommend PSA blood testing from age 45 and up for men who are at higher risk, and from 50 upward for men at normal levels of risk
Dr Rodgers said: “Risk of prostate cancer is increased for people of African Carribean ethnicity and those with a family history of prostate cancer.
“If you develop symptoms that suggest prostate enlargement, or your symptoms change over time then you should be discussing this with your doctor.”
What can you do if you’re worried or want to take action?If you have any of the symptoms that are described above, Dr Rodgers recommends seeing your GP.
He said: “If you’re free of symptoms and you understand both which age groups should consider PSA screening then an annual PSA test can help to monitor for problems.”
It’s important to get regularly tested for prostate cancer if you’re a male over the age of 50, but in the meantime, there are certain foods you can add to your diet to help boost prostate health.