Prostate cancer: a surgeon explains key facts for men

A UK prostate cancer surgeon says public discussion by well-known figures has increased PSA testing and notes the disease causes more than 56,000 new cases a year in the country and affects about one in eight men during their lifetime.

A surgeon with a personal connection to the disease — his father was treated 13 years ago — describes what he wishes men understood about prostate cancer. He notes that prostate cancer causes more than 56,000 new cases a year in the UK and affects about one in eight men over a lifetime. Public accounts by prominent figures have led to more men requesting PSA tests. The surgeon emphasises that a raised PSA can signal a tumour but does not always mean an aggressive cancer. Key facts: - Prostate cancer incidence in the UK is reported at over 56,000 new cases annually. - Lifetime risk is about one in eight men, rising to around one in four for men with a family history and for Black men. - Any man aged over 50 can request a PSA test, and requests have risen following public discussion by high-profile figures. - A raised PSA level can be a biological signal of a tumour, but high PSA does not automatically indicate an aggressive cancer. - Symptoms associated with advanced disease reported in the article include pain in the back, pelvis or hips, unexplained weight loss, blood in urine or semen, erectile problems, and changes in urination. Summary: The surgeon highlights growing public awareness and widely varying patient knowledge about causes, symptoms and outcomes, and he points out higher risk in certain groups. Undetermined at this time.