Did you know that about 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime? The risk of developing this illness increases with age, making it all the more crucial for us to stay informed and proactive about our health as we grow older. But here's the silver lining. More than 80% of all prostate cancers are detected when the cancer is still confined to the prostate. This early detection is crucial, as it significantly increases the chances of successful treatment. In fact, the 5-year survival rate for men diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer is greater than 99% .
If you have a prostate, then your risk of developing prostate cancer increases with age. However, that doesn't mean prostate cancer is limited to the older generation. So if you’re 50 or older, start talking to your doctor about your risk.
Genetic factors play a role. There is a higher risk if close relatives have had prostate cancer or if female relatives had breast/ovarian cancer. Globally there is higher incidence in Black men and those with African ancestry. In these cases, it is recommended to start discussions with your doctor by age 40.
Often, early prostate cancer causes no issues or symptoms – so it’s important to check in with your doctor even if you’re feeling fine. In many cases, prostate cancer grows slowly and many men don’t notice any signs at all. It’s why early detection is key – especially for those at risk.
Sometimes there are issues that could point to signs of prostate cancer – like trouble with leaking urine – but it’s not always the case. There are lots of reasons why issues might be happening, so avoid making assumptions. It’s best to let you doctor get to the bottom of it.
If it turns out that nothing’s wrong? Then that’s the best possible result. Your doc will be delighted to put a plan in place to check in with you again.
You are not alone in this. We are there to help you, so get in touch with us and we will do our best to be there for you!
Copyright © 2024 malecancersupport.org - All Rights Reserved.
Registered Voluntary Organisation (VO 2487)
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.