“My husband has received the very best of care at St Ann’s Hospice, over and above the call of duty.”The partner of a patient of St Ann’s Hospice All quotations and photographs are used with permission.

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The Risk Factors, Symptoms & Support for people living with Prostate Cancer

Angela Daniel, Team Leader at St Ann’s Hospice Neil Cliffe Centre, highlights the risk factors, symptoms and support available for people living with prostate cancer

RISKS

Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in men in the UK (not counting non melanoma skin cancer). Age is the most significant risk factor. Nearly two out of three prostate cancers are found in men over the age of 70. It is quite rare in men under 50 years of age.

A person may also be more at risk if they:

Have a family history of prostate or breast cancer
Are black (of African ancestry) – prostate cancer is more common in black and mixed race men than white or Asian men

SYMPTOMS

Most men with early prostate cancer have no symptoms at all. However some men may display a number of symptoms. The most common symptoms of prostate cancer are an enlarged prostate and:

Having to rush to the toilet to pass urine
Difficulty in passing urine
Passing urine more often than usual, especially at night
Pain on passing urine
Blood in the urine or semen

Other symptoms may include:

New pain in the lower back, hips or pelvis
Problems getting or keeping an erection
Weight loss (especially in older men)

SUPPORT

You do not need to have all of these symptoms to have a problem but it is important to contact your GP to find out what could be causing them. Your GP may want to run a series of tests and it can take one or two weeks to get the test results. It is important to remember that most enlargements of the prostate are benign (non-cancerous) and can be easily treated.

For further support and specialist advice please visit :

www.cancerhelp.org.uk/type/prostate-cancer/index.htm
www.prostate-cancer.org.uk (access to specialist nurse advice via a free and confidential helpline 0800 074 8383)
www.prostatecancersupport.co.uk (helpline 0845 601 0766)
www.pha.u-net.com/index.htm

ABOUT THE NEIL CLIFFE CENTRE

The centre, part of St Ann’s Hospice, is based in the grounds of Wythenshawe Hospital. Experienced healthcare professionals provide rehabilitation and supportive care for patients and carers affected by life-limiting illness. Outpatient services are provided at any stage of illness.

If you have a diagnosis of prostate cancer, support is available from St Ann’s Hospice/the Neil Cliffe Centre – please telephone 0161 291 2912.

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