What is prostate cancer?

1 in 8 British men will be diagnosed in their lifetime so it’s probably worth knowing a bit more about it.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer for men in the UK, with 143 men diagnosed every day, with around 475,000 men currently living with the condition. All of that means it’s a good idea to have an understanding of what it is, and more importantly what the symptoms are, so that you can get checked out sooner rather than later.

All of that means it’s probably worth knowing a bit more about it than it might involve a finger up your bum at some point.

What is a prostate?

Your prostate is a small gland that sits between your penis and your bladder, surrounding the urethra – the tube that takes your wee out of your body.

It’s there to produce the thick white fluid that becomes semen when it’s mixed with sperm from the testicles.

What is prostate cancer?

Simply put, cancer inside the prostate gland.

Sometimes prostate cancer grows very slowly, doesn’t really cause any problems, and won’t need treatment.

Sometimes prostate cancer grows quickly, and that’s when it’s more likely to start causing problems – and spread elsewhere in your body. Catching and treating it early is key.

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

You might notice symptoms of prostate cancer² when you’re going for a wee. They include things like:

Needing to go more often – especially at night
Needing to go suddenly – and maybe dribbling or leaking before you reach the loo
Straining to wee
A weak flow
Taking a long time to finish
Feeling like your bladder isn’t empty

Some people may even experience pain when urinating or ejaculating.

Is it always prostate cancer?

No! Lots of the symptoms above can be caused by what you happen to be eating or drinking, or other conditions – including things like an enlarged prostate³, or prostatitis⁴, which is an inflammation of the prostate.

It’s still always worth getting anything new or unusual for you properly checked out though – especially if you’re someone at a higher risk of getting prostate cancer.

Who’s at risk of prostate cancer?

You’re more at risk for prostate cancer⁵ if you’re over 50. The most common age for men to be diagnosed with prostate cancer is between 65 and 69 years.

For reasons that aren’t fully understood you’re also more at risk if you’re a black man – with up to 1 in 4 black men likely to be diagnosed in their lifetime.

Your family history also plays a part - particularly if your dad or brother have had prostate cancer, but there also seems to be a link to breast cancer if your mum or sister have had that.

How is prostate cancer diagnosed?

There’s no specific test for prostate cancer, but a diagnosis is made through a combination of things including a PSA blood test measuring levels of a prostate-specific antigen, an MRI scan, a biopsy – and the famous digital rectal examination we’ve all heard so much about.

What happens in a digital rectal examination?

A digital rectal examination is where a doctor or nurse uses a finger to check for any problems inside your bottom.

It’s usually very quick and painless – if they’re pressing on your prostate you might just feel like you need to have a wee.

You can ask for a male or female practitioner if you want to, get changed in private behind a curtain, and even take a friend in with you if it would make you feel more comfortable.

How is prostate cancer treated?

If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, often no treatment is needed at all. If it’s not causing any major problems and it’s not spreading, watching and waiting is very often the way things go.

Your condition will of course be carefully monitored. If you do need intervention, that can include things like surgical removal of the prostate, radiotherapy⁶, hormone therapy, or newer treatments like high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU)⁷ and cryotherapy⁸.

There is a risk of side effects with any sort of treatment, which can include things like urinary and erectile dysfunction. It’s really important to talk through the options and understand the pros and cons of each sort of intervention – and get the right support to live with and manage your condition.

How can Equipsme help with prostate cancer?

1. GP service

If you can’t get an appointment with your NHS GP that suits your working hours, or if you’re squeamish about talking to someone in person, our virtual GP service is there for you 24/7. While they can’t do a physical examination, they can talk through your symptoms, and procedures and processes like getting checked for prostate cancer.

Most GP appointments are made within 24 hours, there’s no time limit on your consultation, and the 24/7 Health Hero GPs can issue open referral letters that can be submitted as part of a claim to find out if the condition and treatment is covered. And if you’d rather speak to a male or female GP you have the option to choose.

How to make a GP appointment

2. Thriva tests

All Equipsme members have access to a 20% discount off Thriva at-home health tests. These include a PSA test, which can help diagnose a prostate issue.

You can also get a FREE at-home PSA test from your own GP, or pay for one from some local pharmacies.

How to arrange a home health check

3. Diagnosis - worried about Prostate Cancer symptoms – get the help you need quickly

If diagnosis is part of your plan, you can access quicker diagnosis services for prostate cancer through AXA Health, if you have a raised PSA result. Just click on the diagnosis icon in your member portal, and contact AXA Health. If your claim is eligible, an appointment can be made for you at a suitable nearby clinic, normally within 5 working days. The Check4Cancer team will guide you through the next steps.

Find out more AXA Health’s extra support for cancer symptoms

4. Cancer support line

If it is prostate cancer, you’ll have to go back to the NHS for any treatment but you’ll have the support of the Cancer support line from AXA Heath. They can talk you through your diagnosis, treatment options, and help you with any questions or queries.

What is the cancer support line?