Prostate cancer, why is it a problem?
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting men in the UK. 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Prostate cancer is more common in men over the age of 65, but it can occur in younger men too. If you are Black or have a strong family history of prostate cancer, you have a have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer at a younger age.
Finding prostate cancer early makes it easier to treat. The difficulty is, early prostate cancer (called localised prostate cancer) usually doesn’t cause any symptoms, so it is important to understand your risk. Some men avoid talking about prostate cancer or getting a check because they feel awkward or embarrassed, especially about an examination of their back passage. But if you are concerned, it is important to get checked.
For men who might be of higher risk of prostate cancer, we are offering a simple urine test and a blood test called a PSA which means Prostate Specific Antigen. To find out if you are eligible, click here
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw a drop in the number of men being referred to hospital for suspected prostate cancer. We need to find those missing men, the earlier the better.
Prostate cancer risks:
Age
This is the strongest risk factor and your risk increases from the age of 50. The most common age for men to be diagnosed with prostate cancer is between 65 and 69 years. If you are under 50, your risk of prostate cancer is low but it is possible.
Ethnicity
If you are Black, you have a much higher chance of getting prostate cancer – about 1 in 4 Black men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime*
You are also more likely to get prostate cancer at a younger age. If you are a black man over 45 years, you should consider a PSA test or talk to your GP even if you don’t have symptoms.
If you are Asian, your risk of prostate cancer is much lower. We don’t know why this is.
*This statistic was worked out using information about men recorded as ‘black African’, ‘black Caribbean’ and ‘black other’.
Family History
Family history is important in lots of health conditions, especially prostate cancer. Your risk of prostate cancer is higher if:
- your father or brother were diagnosed with prostate cancer under the age of 60
- 2 or more relatives on the same side of the family have had prostate cancer (father, brother, uncle, grandfather)
- Your mother or sister have had or have breast cancer
If you are over 45 and are worried about your family history, you should consider a PSA test or talk to your GP