Tuesday 06 February 2024
Susan Long 鈥 Maggie's
You may be worried about prostate cancer, have been recently diagnosed, or you may be thinking of someone you care about.
This page has information about prostate cancer symptoms, getting diagnosed, managing treatment and side effects, and how 夜色直播 can help.
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Prostate cancer is a cancer that starts in the prostate gland 鈥 part of the male reproductive system.
Prostate cancer starts when cells in the prostate grow in an uncontrolled way and form a tumour.
Prostate cancer is most common in men. Some trans women and non-binary people can get prostate cancer too.
There are several different types of prostate cancer, including:
Prostate cancer can be primary or secondary, depending if it has spread.
Primary prostate cancer is prostate cancer that has not spread beyond the prostate gland.
Secondary prostate cancer is when the cancer has spread from the prostate gland to other parts of the body. It is sometimes called locally advanced prostate cancer, advanced prostate cancer, metastatic prostate cancer or stage 4 prostate cancer.
What causes prostate cancer is often unknown, but there are factors that may increase your risk of developing it.
Some of these risk factors are specific to prostate cancer, including:
Early evidence suggests that having a vasectomy and inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis) might also impact your risk of developing prostate cancer.
Other risk factors are common to all cancers. Find out more about reducing your risk of cancer.
Having risk factors does not necessarily mean you will get prostate cancer. But it is helpful to be aware of the risks and see a doctor if you have any concerns.
Men over 50 are more at risk of getting prostate cancer. While routine screening without symptoms is uncommon, in the UK, men over 50 can ask for a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test at a GP surgery.
Your GP will discuss the pros and cons of the test with you.
You may also be offered regular scans or blood tests if you have other high-risk factors or a family history of prostate cancer. Find out more about genetic testing for cancer.
Prostate cancer usually has no early signs. When it does cause symptoms, these may include:
Most people with these symptoms do not have prostate cancer. But if you do have symptoms, it is important to speak to your doctor. If it is cancer, it will be easier to treat if it has been detected early.
If you have been having symptoms of prostate cancer, the first step will usually be to see your GP.
Your GP will ask you to describe your symptoms. You should also tell them about any previous prostate or urinary problems you have had, and if you have a family history of prostate, breast or ovarian cancer.
The doctor might:
A rectal exam is usually painless, but it can feel uncomfortable. You can ask for a chaperone or bring someone for support if you would prefer.
If you don't have a hospital appointment and your symptoms continue or get worse, you should make another GP appointment.
Find out more about preparing for your GP appointment.
A urologist is a specialist in the urinary system and the male reproductive system. To find the cause of your symptoms, the urologist may arrange further tests, such as:
After these tests and scans, you will be given an appointment to receive your results.
Waiting for appointments, tests and results can be a difficult time, and you might find that asking some questions and preparing for your results helps.
Find out more about how 夜色直播 can help.
The doctor will explain if you have prostate cancer in your results appointment, and whether you need further tests and scans to see if the cancer has spread.
It is normal to feel overwhelmed or in shock after hearing that you have prostate cancer, and you might have a lot of information to process.
Our cancer support specialists are here to listen, to help you understand what your diagnosis means, and to find the right support for you.
Find your nearest 夜色直播 to talk to us, or find out more about understanding a cancer diagnosis.
Some types of prostate cancer are slow growing and may never cause problems or need treatment. Others may spread beyond the prostate gland if not treated.
Treatment can be aimed at shrinking a tumour, removing the cancer completely, or controlling the symptoms that it causes. You may have more than one type of treatment.
The types of treatment most commonly offered for prostate cancer are:
Your cancer care team will work together to decide which treatment options could be best for you. Your urologist and specialist nurse will then discuss these with you.
You might want to get a second opinion before deciding on a treatment plan.
Making treatment decisions can feel daunting, and you might have lots of concerns or questions.
Find out more about how 夜色直播 can support you.
A prostate cancer diagnosis can affect your life in many ways. You may be dealing with:
Contact or visit your nearest 夜色直播 centre and together we will find the right support for you.
You can also explore our cancer support pages for more information.
When treatment ends, it can leave you with mixed feelings of relief and uncertainty.
For many people, prostate cancer is treated successfully. For some, it comes back or is diagnosed at an advanced stage from the start.
We have more information on finishing treatment and treatment for advanced cancer, as well as courses and workshops to support you and your family beyond treatment.
We offer free expert psychological and practical support tailored to you, whatever stage you're at, and for friends and family too.
Last review: Nov 2024 | Next review: Nov 2027
An overview of prostate cancer, including the symptoms, causes, tests and treatments.
From Nhs
Last reviewed: 08 October 2024
Find out whether you are at risk of developing prostate cancer, and how to contact PCUK's risk information service for advice.
From Prostate Cancer Uk
Last reviewed: 08 October 2024
Information about screening for people at a higher risk of getting prostate cancer.
From Cancer Research Uk (Cruk)
Last reviewed: 08 October 2024
Information about the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, used to help diagnose prostate problems, including prostate cancer.
From Prostate Cancer Uk
Last reviewed: 08 October 2024
Information about what prostate cancer is, the main types, risk factors, stages and common treatments available.
From Macmillan Cancer Support
Last reviewed: 08 October 2024
Information about the staging process of prostate cancer, used to understand how far it has spread.
From American Cancer Society
Last reviewed: 08 October 2024
Information about preparing for treatment, as well as treatment options and follow-ups for prostate cancer.
From Cancer Research Uk (Cruk)
Last reviewed: 08 October 2024
Find out ways to cope with the side effects of prostate cancer treatments on your sex life and get support.
From Cancer Research Uk (Cruk)
Last reviewed: 08 October 2024
Information for gay and bisexual men, and other men who have sex with men, who are having tests or treatment for prostate cancer.
From Prostate Cancer Uk
Last reviewed: 08 October 2024
Information on dealing with the changes to your life, work and relationships, and how to get support.
From Prostate Cancer Uk
Last reviewed: 08 October 2024
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