Bryan Betty: The problem of prostate cancer - Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Why is prostate cancer a problem? 

- It occurs in the prostate, a gland that sits below the bladder and produces fluid for semen. 

- It’s the second highest cause of cancer death in men. 4000 are diagnosed a year, and 700 men die a year. 

- Over time the number of people being diagnosed, and death rate is dropping due to increased testing. 

- If you are diagnosed: 90% of men are alive after 5 years, and 90% alive after 10 years due to early treatment, and sometimes the cancer is slow growing.   

Are there symptoms that can indicate prostate cancer? 

Things to look out for: 

- A need to urinate urgently, difficulty with getting started and weak urine stream, dribbling after finish, blood in the urine. 

- However, these can be due to other ‘benign’ prostate problems: 

- BPH – Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy: the prostate getting larger with age, but it’s not cancerous 

- Prostatitis: an infection of the prostate 

If you notice any of these symptoms you need to talk to your GP. 

Should we be doing anything to check for prostate cancer? 

- Yes. From the age of 50 years, talk to your doctor about a two-yearly prostate check. 

- If you have a family history —father, brother— then you may need to start earlier at 40 years. 

- The check is very simple: a blood test called a PSA and quick rectal examination to feel for the size of the prostate. 

If a problem is detected what are the treatments? 

- If the blood test indicates a possible problem, then more tests are done: further bloods, possible MRI scan, a biopsy of the prostate to look for cancer. 

- If cancer is detected there are four main approaches: 

- Watch and wait: because the cancer is early and is considered low risk, slow growing, and may not cause a problem.   

- Radiotherapy to destroy the cancer. 

- Prostatectomy: where an operation is preformed to remove the prostate. 

- Hormone injections that shrink and control the cancer. 

Like all cancers can be treated if found early: if you are 50, a man, visit your GP and discuss a prostate check! 

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