Last updated on April 6th, 2017 at 01:31 pm

Prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, with over 40,000 new cases diagnosed every year.

Prostate cancer usually affects men over the age of 50.  Around 1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer, but this increases to 1 in 4 of black men, who may also be diagnosed around 5 years earlier at the age of 45.  The risk may also be increased by 2.5 if a man has a father or brother who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer (compare with a man with no relatives who have been diagnosed).

This cancer usually develops slowly, so there may be no signs you have it for many years. Symptoms often only become apparent when your prostate is large enough to affect the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis). When this happens, you may notice things like an increased need to urinate, straining while urinating and a feeling that your bladder has not fully emptied. These symptoms shouldn’t be ignored, but they do not mean you definitely have prostate cancer. It’s more likely that they are caused by something else, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (also known as BPH or prostate enlargement), but see your GP if you notice any changes.

Testicular cancer

Cancer of the testicles, also known as testicular cancer, is one of the less common cancers. It usually affects younger men between the ages of 15 and 49.

The most common symptom is a painless lump or swelling in the testicles.  Other symptoms can include:

• a dull ache in the scrotum (the sac of skin that hangs underneath the penis and contains the testicles)
• a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum

It’s important to be aware of what feels normal for you. Get to know your body and see your GP if you notice any changes.

Penile cancer

Penile cancer is a rare type of cancer that occurs on the skin of the penis or within the penis.

In the UK, around 550 men are diagnosed with cancer of the penis each year. It most commonly affects men over 60 years of age.

Over the last 30 years, the number of penile cancer cases has increased by more than 20%, possibly due to changes in sexual practices.

However, improvements in diagnosis, staging and treatment have led to a similar reduction in the number of deaths resulting from the condition.

You should be aware of any abnormalities or signs of penile cancer, including:

• a growth or sore on the penis that doesn’t heal within four weeks
• bleeding from the penis or from under the foreskin
• a foul smelling discharge
• thickening of the skin of the penis or foreskin that makes it difficult to draw back the foreskin (phimosis)
• a change in the colour of the skin of the penis or foreskin
• a rash on the penis

If you experience these symptoms, it’s important that they’re checked by your GP as soon as possible. It’s unlikely they’ll be caused by cancer of the penis, but they need to be investigated.

Any delay in diagnosing penile cancer could reduce the chances of successful treatment.

Where can I get help and advice about male cancer?

Founded in 1996, Orchid is the only UK registered cancer charity to focus entirely on male cancers. Orchid’s aim is to improve standards of care and to offer the best possible support for men and their families through 3 key areas:

• Research to improve the understanding of male cancers, ways to detect and stage disease and to identify new treatments and novel strategies to improve survival.
• Education to promote better awareness of the signs and symptoms of male cancers, to encourage early diagnosis leading to improved outcomes and to ensure the best possible care through influence at local and national level.
• Support and information offered in a variety of formats, from specialist Male Cancer Information Nurses to a portfolio of publications, which enable people affected by or interested in male cancers to have the best possible outcome.

How can Graysons help?

Prostate, testicular and penile cancer are curable in many cases.  Unfortunately, however, some people can suffer severe symptoms for months, or even die, because there was a negligent delay in diagnosing the cancer.

Here at Graysons we recognise the devastating, and in some cases fatal, effect that a delayed diagnosis of cancer can have. We understand the importance of compensation to you as it can greatly improve quality of life for you and your family and provide the care and security that is needed.

If you would like to talk to a member of our specialist team then please contact us for a confidential and free discussion today.