Prostate cancer: it’s a man thing

MOST men with prostate cancer know their Gleason score, but thousands of others know little about the disease.

American pathologist Donald Gleason established the score to measure malignancy, around the same time that England beat West Germany to win the 66 World Cup.

His work has saved thousands in Oldham but 10,000 men in the UK still die from the condition every year — around one every hour.

Pennine Acute Trust, which runs the Royal Oldham Hospital, is urging men over the age of 50 who may have watched that famous match when they were children, not to bury their heads in the sand and ignore signs.

March is Prostate Cancer Awareness month, and Jane Tunstall, a urology clinical nurse specialist, will be on hand to answer questions at an awareness event at the hospital’s main entrance tomorrow 2-4pm.

She said: “We are seeing more men, year on year, affected by the disease.

“About four out of 10 men over the age of 70 will suffer from it, but most will live out their lives without it ever affecting them.

“Men over the age of 50 who suffer from an urgent need to pass water and who have difficulty getting the flow of urine started should seek medical advice.

“It is at this stage that prostate cancer can be diagnosed.”

Jane, reassured men that these symptoms don’t necessarily mean prostate cancer.

“But early diagnosis means those who have it get the best chance of a full recovery.”

She added: “The message we are trying to get out is not to be like an ostrich and bury your head in the sand, oblivious to the dangers of the disease.

“Shyness can play a big part in them not seeking help and advice.

“It is important that any man whose father or brother has suffered from prostate cancer is checked out — their GP can organise a blood test.”

Everyman, the UK’s leading male cancer campaign, says three out of four men do not know the signs and symptoms.

Signs include a need to rush to the toilet to pass urine, increased frequency, difficulty in getting the flow started, or starting and stopping while passing urine.

Discomfort, pain or burning while passing urine, and a feeling of not having emptied the bladder fully can also be symptoms, as can dribbling of urine, blood in urine or semen, pain or stiffness in the back, hips or pelvis, and inability to achieve or maintain erection.