It's important that men at risk of prostate cancer to talk to their GP.
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the UK, and more than 47,500 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year – that's 129 men every day.
Every 45 minutes one man dies from prostate cancer – that's more than 11,500 men every year - and 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
That's why I'm supporting Prostate Cancer UK this September, during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and encouraging all men to understand their risk and speak to their GP if they have concerns.
Prostate cancer that is contained inside the prostate (called localised prostate cancer or early prostate cancer) doesn’t usually cause any symptoms. That's why it's important to know about your risk. But some men might have some urinary problems. These can be mild and happen over many years and may be a sign of a benign prostate problem, rather than prostate cancer.
Prostate Cancer UK has developed a thirty-second prostate cancer risk checker. This is a simple and easy to use tool asking questions to assess risk and make a recommendation to the user based on their responses. The risk checker will equip men with the information they need if they decide to speak to their GP about a blood test. For those not at risk of prostate cancer completing the checker, you will be able to share it with a loved one.
Find out more information about the possible symptoms of prostate cancer. If you think you might be at risk of prostate cancer or are experiencing any symptoms, visit your GP or speak to one of Prostate Cancer UK's Specialist Nurses.