Greater Manchester men urged to get checked for Prostate Cancer
A XXXXXX man is speaking out about his experience
Prostate Cancer UK has today launched a new initiative to help men navigate the disease, in response to worrying new research showing widespread misconceptions among men in the North West.
- Just over a third (39%) of North West men realise that early stage prostate cancer often has no symptoms
- 63% think they'll be invited for testing if they're at higher risk – they won’t
- More than half (55%) of North West men would be concerned about having a rectal exam. In reality, a blood test is the best first step to check for prostate cancer
- Just 61% of men in the North West realise prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, despite it affecting 1 in 8 men in the UK
More than two thirds (70%) of North West men surveyed did not know what the prostate does, and 42% did not know where it was in their body. This unfamiliarity with the prostate carried through to dangerous misconceptions about the most common cancer in men.
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He told us:
A man’s risk of prostate cancer increases if they are aged over 50, Black and over 45, or have a family history of the disease. But worryingly over three quarters (76%) of North West men did not think a man’s ethnicity increased his risk of prostate cancer, 46% did not realise having a family history of it could increase a man’s risk, and more than half (54%) did not know age is a risk factor.
Over 52,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, but the disease is treatable if caught early. New figures show that only 39% of North West men realise that early-stage prostate cancer often has no symptoms, while over a third (36%) think it will show symptoms or signs always or most of the time.2
Men can find out if they are at higher risk of prostate cancer – and what they can do about it – by using Prostate Cancer UK’s 30-second online risk checker at prostatecanceruk.org/riskcheck.
Chiara De Biase, Director of Support & Influencing at Prostate Cancer UK, said:
“Men’s health can be a minefield. Everyone has gaps in their knowledge and every one of us probably believes something that just isn’t true.
“But what’s really worrying is that this misinformation could stop a man from getting the early diagnosis that could save his life.
“It’s especially concerning how many men believe they’ll see signs of early stage prostate cancer and would avoid speaking to their GP if they didn’t have symptoms, when we know that prostate cancer doesn’t usually have any symptoms at all until it’s already spread and become incurable.
“On top of this, far too few men know the main factors that put them at risk. That’s why we’re asking every man to take our 30-second online risk checker, to help understand their risk, and what they can do about it.
“This is especially important in the North West, where earlier this year we highlighted the fact that more than 1 in 6 men with prostate cancer were being diagnosed at a stage where it’s too late for a cure – compared to just 1 in 8 men living in London.”
Almost two thirds (63%) of North West men think those at a high risk of prostate cancer will be invited for a test. But the reality is there is currently no screening programme for prostate cancer in the UK. Men are considered at higher risk from the age of 50 and are entitled to a PSA blood test from their GP. Black men or those with a family history of the disease are at higher risk and should speak to their GP from the age of 45.
55% of North West men are concerned about having a rectal exam and 37% of these men would put off speaking to their GP due to this worry. However, the best first step to check for prostate cancer is a blood test you can get from your GP. While the rectal exam can still be used as part of some additional examinations if needed, it’s not painful, is over in a few seconds and it can give the GP useful information about how healthy your prostate is.
In the North West, it’s estimated that over 45,000 men are living with prostate cancer, with more than 4,000 more men being diagnosed each year on average. Over 1,000 men in the area die from the disease each year.3