This year is Men-United March and Sky Sports presenter, Jeff Stelling, is walking 10 marathons in 10 days from Hartlepool United to Wembley Stadium to raise funds to help beat prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, with 47,000 new cases diagnosed every year, and over 10,000 deaths annually. Yet despite these alarming figures, a survey of men aged 45 and over by Prostate Cancer UK , 70% of them knew nothing about their prostate or the symptoms of prostate cancer.

The risk of getting prostate cancer gets higher as you get older. Most men diagnosed with the condition are over 50.

What is the prostate?

It is a small gland in the male reproductive system that helps make the fluid that carries semen. It is small, the size of a walnut, and sits below the bladder, surrounding part of the urethra, which is the tube that men urinate and ejaculate through.

Signs and symptoms of prostate cancer

An enlarged prostate is a natural part of growing older and most men are aware of this.  Therefore they put up with symptoms caused by what they believe to be an enlarged prostate for months, often years, before seeking medical help.

As men get older the prostate cells gradually multiply, creating an enlargement that puts pressure on the urethra causing urinary problems. This is known as benign prostatic hyperplasia.

If the bladder doesn’t empty completely, then there is an increased risk of developing urinary tract infections. Other problems can also develop over time, such as bladder stones, blood in the urine, incontinence, and acute urinary retention (this is a medical emergency).

Early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms but more advanced prostate cancers usually do and those symptoms are often the same as for those conditions mentioned above.

You may have:

• difficulty passing urine
• a sudden need to pass urine
• a frequent need to pass urine
• a need to pass urine during the night
• blood in your urine or semen
• pain when passing urine
• difficulty getting an erection (erectile dysfunction)

There is currently no prostate cancer screening programme on the NHS. If you have any of the above symptoms, or if you also feel tired all the time, have pain in your bones or have suffered substantial weight loss over a short period of time, don’t be afraid and don’t delay, go and see your GP.

Although the symptoms aren’t always caused by prostate cancer, it is still essential that the cause be identified and treated as soon as possible.

How can Graysons help?

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.

You can find out more about claiming compensation for the delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis of cancer on our web pages.