How to check prostate cancer risk like NHS warns thousands of people may have missed a diagnosis

The most common form of cancer in men in the UK is prostate cancer. Now the NHS is on the hunt for 14,000 patients who can be easily tested for the disease as concerns about missed diagnoses grow.

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What is prostate cancer and what are the symptoms?

Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men in the UK data from 2016-2018 by Cancer Research UK, and is a real concern in people over a certain age in particular.

Men are often encouraged to get tested but should not be overly alarmed by what they consider an embarrassing procedure.

The NHS is now warning that thousands of people could miss a diagnosis and trying to hunt down those who might have missed it.

Around 14,000 men in the UK are thought to be out there, undiagnosed, as new figures show that prostate cancer accounts for a third of cancers left untreated as a result of the pandemic.

Why NHS Looking for missing men and how can people check their prostate cancer risk?

What is my risk of prostate cancer?

One in eight men will develop prostate cancer, and those over the age of 50, with family members who have had the disease, and black men, are at increased risk.

As with any cancer, the earlier it is detected, the better the chance of survival.

Prostate Cancer UK have an extremely useful risk checker to check your own risk of prostate cancer and it depends a lot on a person’s age, ethnicity and family history.

For example, a white man aged 55-59 whose father or brother had prostate cancer is 2.5 times more likely to develop the disease. Black men or men of mixed ethnicity in the same group are at even higher risk.

The charity said: “Having a family history of prostate cancer is another risk factor. You are 2.5 times more likely to develop prostate cancer if a father or brother is present. yours has this disease”.

There’s no guarantee that any man, or those who aren’t twins, will get prostate cancer, but they should know what to look out for and when to get tested.

The NHSalong with celebrities like Stephen Fry and Bill Turnbull – both of whom have contracted the disease – are starting a campaign to get people checked.

More than 58,000 men in the UK have started treatment for prostate cancer since April 2020 – 14,000 fewer than expected at this stage.

What are the signs of prostate cancer?

There are symptoms of prostate cancer that everyone should look out for, such as frequent urination or having to rush to the bathroom.

Other symptoms are as follows:

• difficulty starting to urinate (hesitancy)
• straining or taking a long time to urinate
• weak flow
• feeling that your bladder is not completely emptied
• blood in urine or blood in semen

However, it’s important not to rely on signs or symptoms, but to know how dangerous you are and to act often.

NHS explains : “Prostate cancer usually doesn’t cause any symptoms until the cancer has grown large enough to put pressure on the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the penis (urethra).”

If you’re a man at higher risk because of your age, family history or ethnicity, you could get it without realizing it.

“Early-stage prostate cancer often doesn’t have any signs,” he says. “So don’t wait for symptoms if you want to talk to your GP about your risk of prostate cancer,” he says. .”

The great actor and comedian Stephen Fry was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017 after a routine checkup.

He said: “As you can imagine, I was very disappointed when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, especially given that I had no symptoms that suggested anything was wrong – which later on. I just learned it’s very common.Thankfully it’s caught early, making it easier to treat.

“That’s why I recommend you check your risks and talk to your doctor if you have any concerns, even if you feel perfectly fine, like I did. “

How do prostate cancer tests work?

There are two main ways to check for prostate cancer activity, one is called a ‘prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test’ and the other is by examining the prostate itself.

You should talk to your GP if you have concerns or know that you are approaching an age at risk.

After listening to you, your doctor may conduct routine tests such as a general exam blood pressureheart rate and temperature.

Then, if they feel it’s necessary, they go for a PSA test or routine checkup.

For PSA tests, Cancer Research UK explains: “A high PSA level can be a sign of cancer. But a high PSA can also be caused by other conditions that aren’t cancer or an infection. Regular PSA tests don’t diagnose prostate cancer. prostate . ”

Routine check-ups for men can often feel anxiety or shame, as the doctor is required to insert a gloved finger into the rectum to feel for an enlarged prostate.

It’s an annoying few seconds that can save a man a lot of time in the future.