Prostate Cancer FAQs
How common is prostate cancer?
Each year in the UK, more than 36,000* men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. It has overtaken lung cancer to become the most common cancer in men. With PSA testing on the increase and an ageing population, incidence is predicted to rise ahead of breast cancer during the next decade.
Who does prostate cancer affect?
The majority of men are aged over 60.
What causes prostate cancer?
More is now known about the genes and molecular mechanisms involved in the development of prostate cancer, however further genetic variants remain to be discovered. Men with a brother or father with prostate cancer have a two to five fold increased risk, depending on the age of their relative at the time of diagnosis.
Is the chance of developing prostate cancer influenced by dietary or environmental factors? Is there anything I can do to reduce the risk of developing it?
Obesity, a diet high in animal fat and low in fresh fruit, vegetables and fish and being exposed to cadmium (a heavy metal) or “radiation” have been identified as possible risk factors which may be associated with prostate cancer. However research is still continuing in this area.
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
It has few symptoms in its early stages. When symptoms occur they may include difficulties in urinating or pain and/or stiffness, usually in the lower back and hips. However, these symptoms are more commonly caused by other conditions, such as benign (non-cancerous) enlargement of the prostate or arthritis. If you have concerns, you should consult with your doctor.
How is prostate cancer diagnosed?
Diagnosis methods include:
• The PSA Blood Test, which tests the level of ‘Prostate
Specific Antigen’ in the blood;
• Digital rectal examinations to feel the prostate gland and biopsies which take tiny samples of tissue from the prostate.
• The PSA test is not specific for cancer and ‘raised’ levels can occur due to benign enlargement or inflammation of the prostate gland. Microscopic examination of the biopsy is required to confirm the presence of cancer.
How is prostate cancer treated?
Some prostate cancers grow so slowly that no treatment is needed. Instead, a policy of Active Surveillance is employed to monitor the condition. When more active treatment is required, surgery, radiotherapy, hormone therapy or a combination of these treatments are used. Both radiotherapy and prostatectomy are used in the UK.
Will any treatment affect my sex drive and will I still be able to father children?
Different treatments for prostate cancer can cause impotence, reduced ejaculation, a lowered sex drive, urinary incontinence, bowel problems, hot flushes and sweats and tiredness. Surgery, radiotherapy and hormone therapy all have different side-effects which need to be considered in any decisions about treatment.
Treatment for prostate cancer is likely to cause infertility. This should be discussed with your doctor before you start treatment.
I have heard about PSA screening. Is it necessary for all men over a certain age to be screened?
The PSA test (Prostate Specific Antigen) can be used to screen for early prostate cancer. A raised result does not necessarily mean you have cancer and a positive biopsy is needed to confirm cancer which will occur in about one man out of every five. If prostate cancer is diagnosed, it is not necessarily life threatening and curative treatment many not be required – as most men diagnosed with early prostate cancer following a positive PSA test would be expected to have slowly growing cancer which should not cause any problems during their natural lifespan. There is controversy about whether PSA testing should be used in routine screening for prostate cancer. Many medical professionals feel it will be wrong to introduce national screening in this country because the effectiveness of screening is uncertain and the side effects of treatment can be significant. However every man over 50 has a right to a PSA test if they request it and in the USA many men have regular PSA tests from the age of 50.
*average of the last three years.
Cancer Research UK, http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/types/prostate/index.htm, July,2010.
