The warning sign to look out for that could indicate you have prostate cancer
- Signs including using the loo more often, pain, burning and blood in the urine
- Men over 50 can request a free PSA test, but the tests are not wholly accurate
Warning signs of prostate cancer include going to the toilet more often, particularly at night.
Other symptoms include taking longer to go to the toilet, starting and stopping, pain, a burning sensation, and blood in the urine.
Men over 50 can request a free PSA test, which measures the level of prostate-specific antigen in the blood.
A high reading can be a sign of cancer but the test is not wholly accurate. Your GP will carry out other examinations before deciding whether you should see a specialist.
Most men with high readings will then have an MRI scan to give a better indication of whether it’s cancer before it is confirmed with a biopsy.
For many men with prostate cancer, no treatment is necessary and it is instead monitored.
Men over 50 can request a free PSA test, which measures the level of prostate-specific antigen in the blood (Stock Image)
But for those requiring treatment – for example, if the disease has already spread – this often consists of hormone therapy, radiation treatment and chemotherapy, depending on a person’s diagnosis.
Prostate cancer mostly affects men over 50. Those whose fathers or brothers have had it are two-and-a-half times more likely to be diagnosed.
Men are also at risk if their mother or sister has had breast cancer under the age of 60, because it is caused by the same genes.
Black men are more likely to get prostate cancer, as are men who are overweight or obese.
