Prostate Cancer – don’t leave it too late

Prostate cancers are being found  late in 4 out of 10 cases a recent study has found. .

Corries Solicitors are specialists in medical negligence claims.  Our team of dedicated professionals can help you if your cancer has been missed.  Call us FREE on 0800 655 6550.

Read this article with helpful information about prostate cancer. It might help you and your loved ones.

Prostate cancer –  the facts and figures

Every 45 minutes a man in the UK dies from Prostate Cancer. Here are some statistics from the Prostate UK Website.

Across the UK

• Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men.
• Over 47,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year – that’s 129 men every day.
• Every 45 minutes one man dies from prostate cancer – that’s more than 11,000 men every year.
• 1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime.
• Over 330,000 men are living with and after prostate cancer.

In Scotland

• More than 3,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in Scotland.
• More than 900 men die from prostate cancer every year in Scotland.

In England

• Almost 40,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in England.
• More than 10,000 men die from prostate cancer every year in England.
• Every 45 minutes one man dies from prostate cancer in England.

In Wales

• More than 2,500 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in Wales.
• More than 500 men die every year from prostate cancer in Wales.

In Northern Ireland

• More than 1,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in Northern Ireland.
• More than 200 men die every year from prostate cancer in Northern Ireland.

The report

The report by the charity Orchid found a worrying trend of late diagnosis of prostate cancer with 37% of prostrate cancers diagnosed at stages three and four.  In addition to this 1 in 4 of the cases were diagnosed in Accident & Emergency departments.

The number of men dying from prostate cancer has overtaken female deaths from breast cancer.  It is expected to rise ever further. The report is digested by the BBC here

Prostate Cancer – The Symptoms

A major problem with prostate cancer detection may lie in how the symptoms develop. One obvious sign is changes in the way a man urinates. This may just be due to an enlarged prostate but it is recommended you get it checked out.

Changes in your body which might suggest a problem include:-

• a sudden urge to urinate – you may sometimes leak before you get to the toilet.
• needing to urinate more often, especially at night

• a feeling that your bladder hasn’t emptied properly

• Difficulty starting to urinate or emptying your bladder

• a weak flow when you urinate
• dribbling urine after you finish urinating

If prostate cancer breaks out of the prostate then other symptoms may be noticed like:

• back pain, hip pain or pelvis pain
• problems getting or keeping an erection
• blood in the urine or semen
• unexplained weight loss.

Are you at risk?

In the UK, about 1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer at some point in their lives.

Men aged 50 or over, men with a family history of prostate cancer and black men are more at risk of getting prostate cancer.

Greater awareness

The charity report and Prostate Cancer UK are pushing for greater awareness of the condition and what can be done to treat it.There is often a concern that men are too embarrassed to have investigations.

Prostate UK commission a study every two years. The aim is to gauge the general understanding of the condition and all that surrounds it. The last study in 2014 provides interesting reading.  The report found that:

• 15% of people are unaware that men have a prostate
• Only 17% of people know that transgender women have a prostate
• Only 41% of people can correctly locate the prostate on a diagram
• 69% of people knew that being male increased your risk of prostate cancer
• 51% knew that a family history of prostate cancer increased your risk
• 36% knew that age was a risk factor
• Only 5% knew that ethnicity was a factor

Whilst there have been 4 years since that study the figures and the fact that men are not having tests or measures to find the cancer earlier remains a worry. The Prostate UK Cancer website has lots of helpful information. Click this link

Prostate Cancer – BBC Bill Turnbull’s story

The recent diagnosis of ex BBC breakfast presenter Bill Turnbull has brought into sharp focus how a delayed diagnosis can shorten an otherwise fit life. Click this link to read his story

Corries Comment

Prostate Cancer is an epidemic too big to ignore. Measures to find, treat and help prostrate cancer victims have never been better. That so many people are diagnosed late is a worry and may prevent proper treatment or care.

Testing should not be scary. It is not just about a finger up the rectum. This NHS website gives you more information about what test are done –  give it a look here

At Corries we advise:-

1.If in doubt see you doctor

2. If the doctor will not help then seek a second opinion and;

3. Don’t leave it too late – the test for prostrate cancer are quick and easy – a few minutes now might save years of life later

4. If your symptoms have been missed and you are diagnosed then contact us

If you have an issue about how your prostate cancer was investigated we might be able to help. Call us for a free confidential chat. Our team will be glad to help- or put your mind to rest if we can’t. The number is  0800 655 6550.