What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer can develop when cells in your prostate start to grow in an uncontrolled way. Prostate cancer often grows slowly and may never cause any problems. But some prostate cancer grows quickly and has a high risk of spreading. This is more likely to cause problems and needs treatment to stop it from spreading.
What is the prostate?
The prostate is a gland. Only men have a prostate. The prostate is usually the size and shape of a walnut. It sits underneath the bladder and surrounds the urethra, which is the tube men urinate (pee) and ejaculate through. The prostate’s main job is to help make semen – the fluid that carries sperm.
Does prostate cancer have any symptoms?
Most men with early prostate cancer don’t have any symptoms. So, even if you don’t have symptoms, if you’re a black man over 45, speak to your GP about your risk of prostate cancer.
Some men with prostate cancer may have difficulty urinating. Men with prostate cancer that’s spread to other parts of the body might have pain in the back, hips or pelvis, problems getting or keeping an erection, blood in the urine, or unexplained weight loss. These symptoms are usually caused by other things that aren’t prostate cancer. For example, if you notice any changes when you urinate or have trouble controlling your bladder, this could be a sign of an enlarged prostate or prostatitis. But it’s still a good idea to talk to your GP so they can find out what’s causing them.
A black man's risk
Why are black men at higher risk?
We don’t know why black men are more likely to get prostate cancer than other men. But it might be linked to genes. Genes are sets of instructions inside every cell in your body and are inherited from your parents.
What is the risk for men with mixed black ethnicity?
If you have mixed black ethnicity, you are likely to be at higher risk of prostate cancer than men who aren’t black. But we don’t know your exact risk because we don’t have enough information on prostate cancer in men with mixed black ethnicity. And we don’t know whether it makes a difference if it’s your mother or father who is black.
1 in 4 black men will get prostate cancer at some point in their lives. Black men are more likely to get prostate cancer than other men, who have a 1 in 8 chance of getting prostate cancer.
You may also be more likely to get prostate cancer if:
you are aged 45 or over – and your risk increases as you get older
your father or brother has had it.
If you’re overweight or obese, you might have a higher risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer that’s aggressive (more likely to spread) or advanced (spread outside the prostate).
If you’re a black man over 45, speak to your GP about your risk of prostate cancer.
Spire Parkway Hospital is pleased to support Prostate Cancer Awareness Month (March), by offering a free PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) blood test to men aged 45 and upwards who are not currently undergoing prostate treatment.
Date: Saturday 14th April
Time: 08:30 - 13:30
There is no need to book, just turn up on the day.
GP referrals are not required.
You will be contacted after the event with your results.
Location: The Spire Specialist Care Centre, 1 Damson Parkway, Solihull, West Midlands B91 2PP
For more information please call: 0121 704 5530 or email: info@spireparkway.com.
If you would like to see a consultant before the event, please call 0121 704 5530 or enquire here: http://bit.ly/2riNzq6