Lucy Devine
Medical experts have revealed some of the biggest red flags regarding a deadly cancer that can be hard to detect.
The NHS has shared a warning on social media, explaining that the specific type of cancer can go unnoticed for many years, due to its tendency to develop slowly.
Many symptoms can be subtle and hard to spot, which is why experts that any changes in bathroom habit must always be assessed immediately.
Writing a post for prostate cancer awareness month, the NHS said: “Prostate cancer often develops slowly, so there may be no symptoms for many years, but it’s important to know what to look out for. But if something doesn’t feel right, don’t wait – contact your GP practice. Early diagnosis can save lives.”
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Prostate cancer usually begins on the outer part of the prostate and therefore doesn't usually impact the urethra (which is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis) until it has grown or spread.
There are three main symptoms to look out for, as per the NHS warning. These are:
There are also other symptoms to look out for, such as:
Prostate cancer is most common in older men aged 75 or over. The risk depends on age, genetics, lifestyle and other medical conditions.
It has been predicted that over 36,000 men in America will die from prostate cancer this year alone, while an additional 333,830 will be diagnosed with the common type of cancer, says the American Cancer Society.
Speaking to The Mirror, Professor Prabhakar Rajan, a London-based consultant urologist and robotic surgeon at University College London Hospitals (UCLH) and Barts Health, wants men to be actively asking for Prostate Cancer Screening (PSA) tests at their doctors practice so that people better understand their risk of developing the illness.
"Men need to be able to have an open and honest conversation with their doctor about the PSA test," he said.
Prof Rajan added: "This is important because prostate cancer is often symptom-free until it has escaped the prostate, at which point it is harder to treat."