UK PROSTATE CANCER CASES RISE TO 600,000, MACMILLAN WARNS

More than 100,000 additional men are living with prostate cancer in the UK compared with 2020, according to estimates from Macmillan Cancer Support. The charity's data indicates that approximately 600,000 men currently live with the condition, up from about 500,000 four years ago. Over 68,000 men receive a prostate cancer diagnosis annually across the country, equivalent to roughly one diagnosis every eight minutes. Prostate cancer remains the most frequently diagnosed form of cancer in the UK.

Macmillan Cancer Support has warned that widespread misconceptions about the disease may prevent men from seeking necessary checks. Dr Anthony Cunliffe, lead medical adviser at the charity, stated that a common misunderstanding is that feeling well means prostate cancer cannot be present. The charity explained that prostate cancer often develops without symptoms in its early stages, with symptoms typically emerging only when the cancer grows large enough to place pressure on the urethra. When symptoms do occur, they can include difficulty urinating, an increased need to urinate particularly at night, sensation that the bladder has not completely emptied, sudden urgency to use the toilet, and blood in the urine or semen.

Dr Cunliffe noted that prostate cancer generally occurs in men over 50, though it can develop earlier in some groups including black men and those with a family history of the condition. GPs typically use a blood test called prostate specific antigen (PSA) if, after discussion with a patient, both decide to proceed with testing. Some GPs may suggest an examination of the prostate for additional information, though this is not always necessary and declining one will not prevent a blood test. The charity encouraged all men to speak with their GP for information about prostate cancer and testing options.