MEN and women are being urged to be aware of prostate cancer symptoms, after a study found 79 per cent of males do not know the signs of the disease.
The survey was carried out across London BMI Bishops Wood Hospital in Northwood in support of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
The statistics illustrate why the cancer – which displays few symptoms in its early stages and has later signs which are often ignored – goes undetected.
The hospital said people realise the disease is the most common cancer affecting men in the UK, but more than 40,800 are still diagnosed with it each year.
If caught early enough, prostate cancer is treatable. At present, it claims a life every hour in the UK.
Common symptoms include difficulty urinating or going to the toilet more often or during the night.
While this may not be an immediate cause for concern, Mr Keng Ng, a consultant urologist at the hospital, said it is vital men get these symptoms checked.
“It’s always better to be safe than sorry,” he added. “As men get older, their risk of prostate cancer increases, so men over 50 should be particularly proactive when it comes to detecting the disease.”
Males can request a PSA (prostate specific antigen) test from their GP to check for signs of the cancer.
Mr Ng said: “This simple blood test can improve a man’s chances of finding a successful treatment, yet not enough men know about this.”
Terry Emerson, from Harefield, has been raising awareness of the disease since he was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer a year ago. The disease was not identified in its early stages.
Mr Emerson, who has been given between five and 10 years to live, said: “The more men that know the more lives that can be saved. Women should go and tell their husbands and fathers about it now.”
