Stay alert to the dangers of cancer

Stay aware of the dangers of prostate and testicular cancers and get checked out if need be, warn public health experts.

June is Everyman Male Cancer Awareness Month, and NHS Suffolk experts are joining their voices with national campaigns to encourage men to catch cancers early.

Having overtaken lung cancer, prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in men, with over 35,000 diagnoses every year in the UK, most of which are in men over 60.

The prostate is a small gland the size of a walnut which surrounds the tube which carries urine from the bladder to the penis. The gland usually enlarges as men get older, interfering with the urination process. Prostate cancer can also cause enlargement of the prostate gland, interfering with the flow of urine. The same symptoms can therefore signify conditions less serious than prostate cancer such as a kidney infection or a non-cancerous enlarged prostate gland.

If you have any of the following symptoms it is important to get checked out by your GP:

– An immediacy to pass urine
– Passing urine more often and/or at night
– Difficulty in getting the flow of urine started
– A pain or burning when passing urine
– A feeling of not having emptied the bladder fully
– Blood in urine or semen

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men aged 15 – 44, although rarer than prostate cancer with around 2000 new cases in the UK each year. The best way to check for testicular cancer is to regularly examine your testicles for any abnormalities and look out for:

– A lump in either testicle
– Any enlargement of the testicle
– A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
– A dull ache in the abdomen or groin
– A sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum
– Growth or tenderness of the upper chest

It is important to remember that most lumps are non-cancerous. However, don’t just wait and hope that they disappear – get checked out because if caught early enough 99% of testicular cancer cases are curable.

Dr Jeptepkeny Ronoh, NHS Suffolk Consultant in Public Health Medicine said: “Men are often inclined to ignore the symptoms of prostate and testicular cancer. By getting checked out there is a much greater chance a successful recovery. If you have any of the symptoms make an appointment with your GP.”

For more information on the Everyman Cancer Awareness Month visit www.everyman-campaign.org

For more information about NHS Suffolk visit www.suffolk.nhs.uk

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