The 6 signs of prostate cancer you need to know as cases surge – plus who’s at greatest risk

TALKING about their below-the-belt health isn’t exactly a chat most men are rushing to have.

But the fact remains that prostate cancer is the biggest killer of men in the UK - with one dying every 45 minutes from the disease.

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In fact, prostate cancer is now the most common type of tumour in England following a surge in diagnoses after the Covid pandemic.

Analysis of NHS figures reveals 55,033 men were diagnosed with it in 2023, compared to 47,526 women with breast cancer, the next most common.

So, while talking about prostate health might feel a bit awkward, it’s definitely a conversation worth having - especially if something seems off or if you're at higher risk.

Prostate Cancer UK said a catch-up campaign for cases missed during lockdowns has increased the number of patients.

More men are also visiting their doctors thanks to better awareness, such as after cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy revealed his condition last year.

Early prostate cancer, the treatable kind, doesn’t normally carry symptoms.

“That’s why we do everything we can to make every man aware of his risk of getting the disease and empower him to think about his testing options, Chiara De Biase from the charity says.

"This is so that he has the best chance of getting that all-important earlier diagnosis.

"Because the earlier you find prostate cancer, the easier it is to treat.”

The likelihood of having the disease increases from 50 onwards.

Meanwhile, black men are at double the risk so are advised to be checked from the age of 45.

And the threat also doubles if your father or brother has had prostate cancer.

Some symptoms may start to emerge when the cancer growth is big enough to put pressure on the urethra – that tube you pee through.

When this happens, some people may experience the following:

1. Needing to urinate more often, especially at night
2. Needing to rush to the toilet
3. Difficulty in starting to pee
4. Weak flow
5. Straining and taking a long time while peeing
6. Feeling that your bladder hasn’t emptied fully

If you suspect you might have prostate cancer, speak to your GP.

The prostate is a small, gland, that only men have.

II can be found around the urethra, between the penis and the bladder.

Many men's prostates get bigger as they age because of two non-cancerous conditions: prostate enlargement and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

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These conditions are more common than prostate cancer – but that doesn’t mean symptoms should be ignored, the charity said.

If the disease has spread to other parts of the body - which is when it's known as advanced or metastatic prostate cancer - it can cause several other symptoms, including:

• Back or bone pain that doesn’t go away with rest
• Tiredness
• Weight loss for no reason

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What causes prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer is very common, but it's causes are unknown, the NHS says.

Recent research suggests obesity increases your risk of prostate cancer while exercising regularly lowers it.

A high-calcium diet, rich in dairy, is also thought to be unfavourable when it comes to risk level, the NHS says.

Eating foods that contain lycopene reduces the risk of prostate cancer developing, Cancer Research UK says.

This includes tomatoes and tomato-based foods, particularly when cooked.

To take an online test to reveal your risk of prostate cancer, click here.