Male cancer is ‘most common’ in England overtaking breast disease as cases surge – 3 signs you must know
PROSTATE cancer is the most common type of tumour in England following a surge in diagnoses after the Covid pandemic.
Analysis of NHS figures show 55,033 men were diagnosed with it in 2023, compared to 47,526 women with breast cancer, the next most common.
Prostate Cancer UK said a catch-up campaign for cases missed during lockdowns have increased the number of patients.
More men are also visiting their doctors thanks to better awareness, such as after cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy revealed his condition last year.
The charity is still encouraging men to get checked sooner and increase the proportion of cases caught in early stages when they are more treatable.
Prostate cancer may not cause symptoms in its early stages but warning signs include:
- Needing to pee more often and more urgently
- Difficulty peeing, such as a weak stream, taking a long time or stopping and starting
- Blood in your urine or semen
Chiara De Biase, director of improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “Unlike other cancers, prostate cancer won’t give you symptoms in its crucial early stages.
“These new figures show that awareness is now growing across the UK.
“More men than ever are learning about their risk and speaking to their GP.
“The way prostate cancer is diagnosed is safer and more accurate than ever, and the first step is a simple blood test – not a finger up the bum.”
Cancer more common with age
Men most at risk of prostate cancer are over-50s, black men, and those with a family history of the disease.
It gets more common with age and obesity and a poor diet also raise the risk.
Breast, bowel and lung cancers are the other most common types of tumour in the UK.
Prostate was also declared the most common in 2019 but cases dropped when people stopped using the NHS during the pandemic.
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS cancer director, said: “We are diagnosing more men with prostate cancer at an earlier stage than ever before, so they have the best possible chance of receiving effective treatment.
“We know that coming forward for prostate checks can be daunting, but it could save your life.”
What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer affects a small, walnut shaped gland that sits underneath the bladder and surrounds the urethra – the tube carrying pee outside the body.
It usually grows bigger as you get older.
The prostate’s main job is to help make semen – the fluid that carries sperm.
Most men with early prostate cancer don’t have any signs or symptoms – that’s why it’s important to know about your risk.
Possible symptoms include:
- Difficulty starting to urinate or emptying your bladder
- A weak flow when you urinate
- A feeling that your bladder hasn’t emptied properly
- Dribbling urine after you finish urinating
- Needing to urinate more often than usual, especially at night
- A sudden need to urinate – you may sometimes leak urine before you get to the toilet
If you do notice changes in the way you urinate, this is more likely to be a sign of an enlarged prostate, which is very common and non-cancerous.
But it’s still a good idea to get it checked out.
In the UK, about one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
Some factors may mean you’re more likely to get it.
This includes:
- Getting older – it mainly affects men aged 50 or over
- Having a family history of prostate cancer
- Being Black
If you have any of these risk factors or if you have any symptoms, speak to your GP.
They can talk to you about your risk, and about the tests that are used to diagnose prostate cancer.
Source: Prostate Cancer UK