Rutland GP urges men over 50 to get themselves checked for prostate cancer
1 in 8 men will get the condition
A Rutland GP is urging all men in their 50s to get themselves checked for prostate cancer.
It comes as Prostate Cancer UK launches their awareness campaign about the most common cancer in men.
According to their research:
- Almost half (44%) of men do not know where their prostate is and 74% aren’t sure what it does
- Only a third (35%) of men realise that early-stage prostate cancer often has no symptoms and over half (53%) think they'll be invited for testing if they're at higher risk – they won’t
- 60% of men would be concerned about having a rectal exam. In reality, a blood test is the best first step to check for prostate cancer
- Only 54% of men realise prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, despite it affecting 1 in 8 men in the UK
Dr Adam Crowther is from Oakham Medical Practice, he said the examination is "painless".
"It's a very simple, painless little examination, doesn't take long at all, probably less than two minutes.
"There's absolutely nothing to worry about in terms of the examination itself."
Is it hereditary?
According to the NHS, having a brother or father who developed prostate cancer before 60 seems to increase your risk of developing it.
Dr Adam told us: "Any worry you've got, particularly if you've got a strong family history, a simple blood test or simple examination could lead to you getting referred to a specialist, then getting assessed and treated early."
You can find out more about prostate cancer on the NHS website.