Disease warning to all men as expert says 'you can still feel fine as it develops'

Disease warning to all men as expert says 'you can still feel fine as it develops' Expert warns of one of the biggest challenges with the common disease A health expert has issued a message to all men about a common disease. The doctor says men can still feel "perfectly well" while it quickly develops in their bodies. Men are being urged to understand their risk of prostate cancer rather than waiting for symptoms to appear, as early-stage disease can develop without obvious warning signs. Around 68,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK each year, making it the most common cancer affecting men, yet many may be unaware they are at increased risk until the disease is detected. Recognising the factors that make prostate cancer more likely to develop can help men take a more proactive approach to their health, the expert says. And speaking to a doctor about whether further investigation is appropriate can really help, he says. "One of the biggest challenges with prostate cancer is that men can feel perfectly well while the disease is developing. Waiting until something feels wrong is not necessarily the best approach, particularly for men who already have recognised risk factors," says Dr Jiri Kubes, medical director at the Proton Therapy Centre. He says there are three particularly important risk factors men should be aware of. These include: age, ethnicity and family history. Prostate cancer becomes more common as men get older, with the risk rising significantly after the age of 50. Men of Black African or Black Caribbean heritage are at higher risk and are more likely to develop the disease at a younger age. Having a close relative, such as a father or brother, who has had prostate cancer can also increase your chances of developing it. A family history of certain other cancers, including breast and ovarian cancer, may also be relevant because of inherited genetic changes. Around one in eight men will develop the disease during their lifetime - a risk factor that increases to one in four for Black men, according to Prostate Cancer UK. "Knowing your family history is particularly important. If your father or brother has had prostate cancer, or there is a history of certain cancers in your family, it is worth discussing this with your doctor, even if you have no symptoms yourself," Dr Kubes says. Symptoms such as difficulty passing urine, a more frequent need to urinate or blood in the urine should always be investigated. However, these symptoms can also be caused by non-cancerous conditions, and their absence does not rule out prostate cancer. According to the NHS, prostate cancer often causes no warning signs in its early stages. Because the cancer usually grows on the outer part of the prostate, symptoms generally only appear if the tumour grows large enough to press against the urethra (the tube carrying urine out of the body) or spreads elsewhere. Common urinary and sexual symptoms When symptoms do develop, they frequently relate to changes in urination or sexual function: - Frequent urination: Needing to pee more often than usual, particularly waking up multiple times at night. - Urgency: A sudden, strong need to urinate, sometimes leaking before reaching the toilet. - Difficulty starting or straining: Hesitating or having to push to begin urinating. - Weak or interrupted flow: A stream that is slower than usual, stops and starts, or dribbles at the end. - Incomplete emptying: Feeling like the bladder is not completely empty after going to the toilet. - Blood: Noticing blood in the urine or blood in the semen. - Erectile dysfunction: New difficulty getting or maintaining an erection, or pain during ejaculation For men concerned about their risk, a conversation with a GP can help establish whether a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test is appropriate. The test measures a protein produced by the prostate gland. An elevated result does not automatically mean cancer is present, but it may prompt further assessment, potentially including an MRI scan or biopsy. Dr Kubes says: "The important thing is for men to be informed, rather than frightened. Understanding your personal risk and discussing the options with a medical professional gives you the opportunity to make decisions about your health based on evidence, rather than waiting for symptoms to appear." He adds that awareness cannot prevent every case of prostate cancer, nor does having a risk factor mean a man will inevitably develop the disease. But understanding who is more vulnerable can help men make informed decisions about testing and ensure that concerns are addressed before symptoms become the trigger for seeking medical advice.