Men’s Health

We offer a range of clinics and services here at Cavendish Health Centre to support men’s health and help maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Prostate Cancer

PROSTATE CANCER IS THE MOST COMMON CANCER IN MEN IN THE UK, WITH OVER 40,000 NEW CASES DIAGNOSED EVERY YEAR.

Prostate cancer is cancer that starts in the prostate gland. The prostate gland is found at the base of the bladder and is about the size of a walnut. Prostate cancer usually develops slowly, so there may be no signs for many years.

Prostate cancer is most common in older men. On average each year 35 out of 100 (35%) new cases are in men aged 75 and over. It is also more common in Black men than in White men. It is less common in Asian men.

A man’s risk of developing prostate cancer depends on many factors. These include:

age
genetics and family history
lifestyle factors
other medical conditions

Symptoms often only become apparent when your prostate is large enough to affect the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis).

Possible symptoms of prostate cancer 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.

However, these signs do not mean you have prostate cancer. It is more likely they are caused by something else, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (also known as BPH or prostate enlargement).

What is the prostate?

The prostate is a small gland in the pelvis found only in men. About the size of a Satsuma, it is located between the penis and the bladder. It surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis.

The main function of the prostate is to help in the production of semen. It produces a thick white fluid that is mixed with the sperm produced by the testicles, to create semen.

Prostate Cancer and PSA

The PSA test is not a perfect test for picking up prostate cancer. Read here for more information to help you decide whether you should have this test.

Prostate cancer testing

There is currently no routine screening programme for prostate cancer in England.

However, the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) has announced a draft recommendation for a targeted prostate cancer screening programme for men with a BRCA1 or BRCA 2 genetic mutation, as this puts them at higher risk of developing prostate cancer.

If you are worried about symptoms that may indicate prostate cancer, make an appointment with your GP practice to discuss your concerns.

A family history of cancer can also indicate a higher risk.

This can mean any first-degree relative with breast, ovarian or prostate cancer. However, this term can include different levels of risk, for example men with more than one relative who has had cancer, or men whose relatives had their cancer diagnosed at a young age. Those with a family history of cancer may be eligible for genetic testing.

If you have a family history of cancer and are experiencing symptoms of prostate cancer, or if you are worried about symptoms that may indicate prostate cancer, make an appointment with your GP practice to discuss your concerns.

Useful links

Prostate cancer – NHS

https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information-and-support/prostate-tests/psa-blood-test

Testicular Cancer

Although still rare compared to other cancers, testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men aged between 15-45 years with around 2,200-2,300 men being diagnosed each year. It is more common in Caucasian males.

If found at an early stage a cure rate of 98% is usually possible and even when testicular cancer has spread to other areas of the body cure can still be achieved. In fact according to recent research overall 96% of men diagnosed with any stage testicular cancer will be alive 10 years after treatment.

It is important to visit your GP as soon as you notice any lump or swelling on your testicle. Your GP will examine your testicles to help determine whether or not the lump is cancerous.

Symptoms

The earliest warning signs of testicular cancer usually include the following:

A change in size or shape of a testicle.
Swelling or thickening of a testicle.
A firm, smooth, initially painless, slow-growing lump or hardness in a testicle.
A feeling of testicular heaviness.

Useful links

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