You might have noticed that this month was Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. I think awareness events are great for getting people talking and thinking about cancer, but it’s also important to keep up the conversation. Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men. Over 40,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year. So we can’t afford to forget about it after the awareness month ends. It’s important for all men, especially those who have a higher risk, to be aware of its signs and symptoms.
So who is at risk of prostate cancer? What are the main symptoms? And what can you do about prostate cancer? This blog hopes to answer these questions.
Although the causes of cancer of the prostate are still unknown, there are some risk factors that are known to increase a man’s chance of developing the disease.
Age remains the strongest risk factor for prostate cancer. Prostate cancer almost always affects men over the age of 50, and the risk increases with age. The average age for men to be diagnosed with prostate cancer is between 70 and 74 years old. Younger men can be affected, but this is very rare.
It’s thought that about half of all men over 50 may have cancer cells in their prostate, and 8 out of 10 men over 80 have a small area of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer differs from most cancers in that small areas of cancer within the prostate are very common and may stay dormant (inactive) for many years. Most of these cancers grow very slowly and are often unlikely to cause any problems. However, it’s important to catch prostate cancer early enough so it can be monitored and treatment given if needed.
Research has found that Black African and Black Caribbean men are three times more likely to develop prostate cancer than men of other ethnicities. 1 in 4 black men will get prostate cancer at some point in their lives. However, each man’s individual’s risk might be slightly higher or lower than this, depending on other risk factors such as age and family history.
It is not yet known why black men are at higher risk of having prostate cancer, and research is still ongoing. What is known is higher rates of prostate cancer are seen in men of African descent across the UK, US, Caribbean and West Africa. This could suggest a genetic link between these men and their prostate cancer risk.
Researchers have found some characteristics in genes that can be passed down and increase the risk of developing prostate cancer. Only 5–10% of prostate cancers are thought to be strongly linked to an inherited risk.
It is thought that a man’s risk of developing prostate cancer is higher if:
If this is the case in your family, it may indicate that an altered gene is present.
A specific gene linked to prostate cancer has not yet been identified. However, research has shown that genes that are linked to breast cancer (called BRCA1 and BRCA2) may also increase the risk of getting prostate cancer.
If you are worried about your family history, see our section about cancer genetics and prostate cancer.
Men with early prostate cancer are unlikely to have any symptoms, as these only occur when the cancer is large enough to put pressure on the urethra (the tube that drains urine from the bladder).
The symptoms of prostate cancer can include any of the following:
If you have any of these symptoms, get them checked by your doctor.
These symptoms are usually caused by non-cancerous changes in the prostate rather than by cancer. In men over the age of 50, the prostate gland often gets larger due to a non-cancerous condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia or hypertrophy (BPH). This is quite common and not usually a serious threat to health. Around 60% of men who are aged 60 or over have some degree of prostate enlargement. But it’s important to be safe and get yourself checked – reporting symptoms early to your GP can lead to an early diagnosis and better outcome.
Prostate Cancer UK has more information about common prostate problems.
“I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in January 2012. I had been experiencing dribbling after urinating and retrograde orgasms but just put this down to my age (59) and did not go to the doctor for some months. Had I listened to my friend and gone for a PSA test or gone to the doctor sooner my outcome may have been different. If you suspect there is anything wrong then seek medical advice quickly. The examination can be embarrassing but it is important to remember that no matter how uncomfortable you feel about it, get yourself checked out. It could save your life.” Bill
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Sources
Cancer Research UK. Prostate cancer incidence statistics. http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/cancerstats/types/prostate/incidence/
NHS Choices. Prostate enlargement. http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Prostate-enlargement/pages/introduction.aspx
Prostate Cancer UK. About the risk in Black Men. http://prostatecanceruk.org/information/who-is-at-risk/about-the-risk-in-black-men
Prostate Cancer UK. Prostate cancer facts and figures. http://prostatecanceruk.org/information/prostate-cancer-facts-and-figures
Prostate Cancer UK. Who is at risk? http://prostatecanceruk.org/information/who-is-at-risk
