Prostate cancer cases to double in 20 years

The number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer – the most common form of male cancer in over 100 countries – is projected to double to 2.9 million per year by 2040, with deaths rising by 85% to 700,000

SYMPTOMS

Bladder
More frequent need to urinate, or difficulty urinating, often at night, feeling that bladder isn’t empty

Ureter

Prostate gland
Enlargement – with similar symptoms to cancer – common in men over 50. Ageing population means symptoms will be seen more frequently May not indicate cancer

Pelvic lymph nodes: Cancer can spread throughout body via lymphatic or blood system leading to:

Lack of appetite, weight loss

Back, bone pain 

Penis: Blood in urine or semen

Testicle pain

TREATMENTS

1 Watchful waiting: Minimal testing. Most prostate cancer grows slowly and may cause no problems during lifetime

2 Active surveillance: MRI scans, regular blood tests for Prostate Specific Antigen, and biopsy if indicated

Bladder
Urine
Biopsy involves removal of prostate tissue for testing
Urethra

Prostate gland
Enlargement – either benign or due to swelling of tumour – can obstruct urine flow

3 External beam radiotherapy Externally-applied high energy X-rays destroy localised cancer

4 Radical prostatectomy Surgical removal of entire prostate including cancer

5 Brachytherapy: Radiation source applied internally

6 High-frequency ultrasound: High energy beam kills cancer cells

7 Hormone therapy
Stops testosterone production, keeping prostate cancer under control if it has spread

8 Chemotherapy Anti-cancer drugs kill cancer cells anywhere in body

Source: Prostate Cancer UK
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