It is the most common cancer in males in the UK
Lord David Cameron has shared that he was treated for prostate cancer and is now supporting a special screening program for the most common cancer in men in the UK. The former prime minister was encouraged to get tested by his wife, Samantha, after they heard Nick Jones, the founder of Soho House, talk about his own cancer experience on the radio.
Lord Cameron underwent a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, followed by an MRI scan and a biopsy that confirmed he had cancer. Speaking to The Times, he said: “You always dread hearing those words. And then literally as they’re coming out of the doctor’s mouth you’re thinking, ‘Oh, no, he’s going to say it. He’s going to say it. Oh God, he said it’.”
Hoping that sharing his diagnosis will raise awareness of the cancer, he added: “This is something we’ve really got to think about, talk about, and if necessary, act on.” Lord Cameron expressed his desire to support a push for screening to be available for men at high risk.
He said: “I want to, as it were, come out. I want to add my name to the long list of people calling for a targeted screening programme. I don’t particularly like discussing my personal intimate health issues, but I feel I ought to.
“Let’s be honest. Men are not very good at talking about their health. We tend to put things off. We’re embarrassed to talk about something like the prostate, because it’s so intricately connected with sexual health and everything else.
“I sort of thought, well, this has happened to you, and you should lend your voice to it. I would feel bad if I didn’t come forward and say that I’ve had this experience. I had a scan. It helped me discover something that was wrong. It gave me the chance to deal with it.”
What are the warning signs and symptoms of prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is the most frequently occurring cancer among men in the UK, with about 55,000 new cases each year. Right now, there isn’t a screening program for prostate cancer in the UK due to worries about how accurate PSA tests are.
The NHS says: “Prostate cancer usually starts to grow on the outer part of the prostate. This means it does not press on the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis (urethra) and cause symptoms, until the cancer has grown or spread.”
In the early stages, prostate cancer usually doesn’t show any symptoms. However, some common signs may include issues with urination, such as a weak stream or frequent urination, especially at night. Other signs could be blood in the urine or semen, losing weight without trying, and feeling pain in the back, hips, or pelvis, which could mean the cancer has progressed.
Urinary symptoms
- Difficulty starting or stopping urination
- A weak or interrupted urine flow
- Needing to urinate more often, particularly at night
- A feeling that the bladder is not completely empty
- Urgent need to urinate
Other symptoms
- Blood in the urine or semen
- Unexplained weight loss
- Pain in the back, hips, or pelvis
- Bone pain
- Erectile dysfunction
- Painful urination
Some of these signs can also happen because of non-cancer issues, like having a bigger prostate. It’s really important to visit a doctor for the right diagnosis, especially if you’re over 50 or if cancer runs in your family. In the early stages, prostate cancer might not show any signs, so it’s essential to have regular check-ups.
The NHS says these symptoms do not always mean you have prostate cancer. It adds: “You can also get some of these symptoms if you have an enlarged prostate. This is a non-cancerous condition caused by the prostate getting larger as you get older.”
You may find that you become accustomed to some of these symptoms. However, it’s essential to consult a GP if your symptoms change, worsen, or do not return to normal.
PSA blood test
The NHS explains: “Your GP may also ask if you want to have a PSA blood test. They’ll explain the benefits and risks of the test to help you decide. A PSA test cannot tell you if you have prostate cancer, but it can show if there are any problems affecting your prostate.
“You’ll need to have other tests to confirm if you have cancer, or if you have something less serious, such as an enlarged prostate or prostate infection (prostatitis). PSA test results usually take one to two weeks.”
