Last updated on August 29th, 2017 at 11:05 am
According to Prostate Cancer UK, there are over 330,000 men in the UK who are living with, or after prostate cancer. The charity says that over 47,000 men are diagnosed with the cancer in the UK every year and around 10,800 men die from it each year.
The prostate is a small gland in the pelvis found only in men. About the size of a satsuma, it’s located between the penis and the bladder and surrounds the urethra. Find out more about the prostate in part 1 of this mini-series of articles.
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer usually develops slowly, so there may be no signs or symptoms for many years.
Symptoms often only become noticeable when the prostate is large enough to affect the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis).
When the urethra is affected the most noticeable things are often:
- an increased need to wee
- straining while urinating
- a feeling that the bladder has not fully emptied
These symptoms should not be ignored, but they do not mean a diagnosis of prostate cancer. The symptoms can often be attributed to other conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (also known as BPH or prostate enlargement) or prostatitis.
What causes prostate cancer?
The causes of prostate cancer are largely unknown. However, certain things can increase the risk of developing it:
- age – it is more common in men over 50 years old
- race – it is more common in men of African-Caribbean or African descent and less common in men of Asian ascent.
- hereditary – men with a family history of prostate cancer
How is prostate cancer detected?
There are a number of tests used to diagnose prostate cancer. The most commonly used tests are:
- blood test – known as a prostate-specific antigen (PSA); it measures the level of PSA and may help detect early prostate cancer
- physical examination of the prostate which determines any enlargement (digital rectal examination)
The two tests together can indicate the need for further testing to identify the prostate cancer.
What is the treatment for prostate cancer?
For many men with prostate cancer, treatment is not immediately necessary.
If the cancer is at an early stage and not causing symptoms, a policy of “active surveillance” may be adopted. This involves carefully monitoring the condition.
Some cases of prostate cancer can be cured if treated in the early stages. Treatments include:
- surgically removing the prostate
- radiotherapy
- hormone therapy
In cases where the cancer is diagnosed at a later stage and has spread to other parts of the body, typically the bones, it cannot be cured and treatment is focused on prolonging life and relieving symptoms. All treatment options carry the risk of significant side effects, including erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence. For this reason, many men choose to delay treatment until there is a risk the cancer might spread.
Newer treatments, such as high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) or cryotherapy, aim to reduce these side effects. Some hospitals may offer them as an alternative to surgery, radiotherapy or hormone therapy. However, the long-term effectiveness of these treatments is not yet known.
As prostate cancer usually progresses very slowly, men can live for decades without symptoms or needing treatment.
How can Graysons help?
Petra Heath. Medical negligence solicitor
We understand that a delay in diagnosing your cancer can result in more extensive treatment such as surgery, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy that may otherwise have been avoided. We understand that more extensive treatment can have a severe strain on the financial, psychological and physical health of the whole family.
Our medical negligence lawyers are recognised as having extensive expertise in conducting claims of this kind and, with the involvement of a team of specialist experts, we will help you to secure a settlement that will provide both financial security and a care package ensuring that your life-long care needs will be met.
You can find out more about our medical negligence services on our web pages.
Where else can you get help?
You can download a series of informative leaflets from Prostate Cancer UK.
This is the last in our mini-series of articles relating to your prostate. Please read the rest of the series for a more in-depth overview of the prostate, what it is, what it does and what problems you can have with it.
All about your prostate…. Part 1.
