Unveiled: The ‘groundbreaking’ test that can detect prostate cancer in 15 minutes using dried blood samples
How many people die from it?
In the UK, over 11,800 men die from the disease each year, or every 45 minutes. In contrast, around 11,400 women die from breast cancer.
This means that in the UK prostate cancer now overtakes lung and bowel cancer in terms of the highest number of deaths.
In the US, 26,000 men die from the disease each year.
Despite this, the sector receives less than half of breast cancer research funding and treatments for the disease lag at least a decade behind.
How many men are diagnosed each year?
Over 52,300 men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, more than 140 cases a day.
How fast is it developing?
Prostate cancer usually develops slowly, so a person may not have any signs of prostate cancer for years, the NHS.
If the cancer is in an early stage and is not causing symptoms, a policy of ‘watchful waiting’ or ‘active surveillance’ may be used.
Some patients can recover if the disease is treated at an early stage.
However, if the disease is only diagnosed at a later stage, when it has already spread, the disease is terminal and treatment focuses on relieving symptoms.
Thousands of men forgo a diagnosis because of the known side effects of treatment, including erectile dysfunction.
Tests and treatment
Testing for prostate cancer is just beginning, and accurate methods are only just becoming available.
There is no national prostate cancer screening program because the tests have been too inaccurate for years.
Doctors find it difficult to distinguish between aggressive and less serious tumors, making it difficult to choose a treatment.
Men over 50 are eligible for a PSA blood test. This test gives doctors a general idea of a patient’s risk.
But it is unreliable. Patients who get a positive result usually get a biopsy, which is also not foolproof.
Scientists aren’t sure what causes prostate cancer, but age, being overweight and lack of exercise are known risks.
Anyone with concerns can contact Prostate Cancer UK’s specialist nurses on 0800 074 8383 or visit prostatecanceruk.org
