A prostate cancer surgeon specialising in researching the disease has said that raising awareness is vital for men to understand their risk.
Writing in the Telegraph, Prof Prabhakar Rajan, who works as a consultant urologist and robotic surgeon at University College London Hospitals (UCLH), said he has been “on the frontline of combating this increasingly common condition” and knows how to get the message out.
“My experience is not limited to the professional. My father was diagnosed with the disease 13 years ago and was successfully treated,” Prof Rajan wrote.
“I have lots of patients, and their knowledge and understanding of prostate cancer—the causes, the symptoms, the treatments available, the survival rates—varies wildly.
“For example, if you have a family member with prostate cancer, you are at an increased risk of developing the disease.
“Rather than a one in eight risk, you are looking at around one in four risk. One in four is also the risk factor for black men.”
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Globally, says the World Health Organisation, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men after breast cancer, with an estimated 30 cases per 100,000 people in Africa.
Last November, the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) warned of a sharp rise in prostate cancer cases. The institute’s consultant, Dr Fred Okuku, described prostate cancer as an escalating public health threat worsened by late diagnosis, misinformation and stigma.
Prof Rajan said more men than ever were requesting a protein-specific antigen (PSA) test after some high-profile UK personalities spoke about their own diagnosis.
The test measures the levels of the antigen in a patient’s blood, a protein made by cells within the prostate gland.
A raised PSA level can serve as a biological signal for the presence of a tumour. But Prof Rajan clarified that high levels of PSA do not automatically mean a bad cancer.
“This is one of the reasons why I think it is so important for men to have a better understanding of this disease and why it is so important for us to discuss it,” he wrote.
“Do not be afraid to ask your GP [doctor] for a PSA test […] Men need to be able to have an open and honest conversation with their doctor about the PSA test.
“Currently, any man aged over 50 years can request a test whether or not they have symptoms. This is important because prostate cancer is often symptom-free until it has escaped the prostate, at which point it is harder to treat.”
He said red flags of advanced prostate cancer include pain around the back, pelvis or in the hips, any surprising weight loss, any blood in the urine or semen, as well as problems getting or maintaining an erection.
He advised men to consult healthcare professionals when they develop difficulty urinating or feel as though their bladder empty when you finish.
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS OUR READERS OFTEN ASK
“Having a weak flow when you urinate, feeling the urge to go to the toilet more than usual—especially if you suddenly feel desperate to go—and leaking, either before urinating or after emptying your bladder all require investigation,” he said.
But having one or any of these symptoms, he noted, does not necessarily mean prostate cancer presence, nor does an absence of symptoms mean there is no cancer.
Prof Rajan said drinking green tea can improve the health of the prostate. Staying physically active and maintaining a healthy weight can also lower risks, as well as eating a Mediterranean-style diet rich in vegetables, especially tomatoes and broccoli, fruit, wholegrains and fish.
“Limit red meat and excess dairy. Don’t smoke and limit your alcohol intake. Get enough vitamin D from sunlight, food or supplements,” he advised.
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