On his regular segment on ITV’s Lorraine, Dr Amir explained what the prostate is and the symptoms of prostate cancer.
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that sits underneath the bladder, he said.
With age, it’s possible for the prostate to get bigger, which means it could press on the tube that carries urine out of the bladder through the genitals.
A cancerous tumour could also press against the same passageway for urine to escape the body, leading to the same symptoms.
Dr Amir said this could result in you going “back and forth to the toilet” as you feel you are not able to fully empty the bladder.
When at the loo, you “might have to force urine out”, there could be “dribbling afterwards”, and there could even be blood.
Dr Amir said one symptom “people often don’t think about” is “men, over 60, with unexplained new back pain – that could be your prostate”.
The doctor urged anybody experiencing this symptom should “get checked out” by a medical professional.
“Any man can get prostate cancer,” said Dr Amir, which is why any symptom of the disease should be investigated.
Those most at risk of the condition include black men and those who have a family history of prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer symptoms, listed by the NHS:
- Needing to pee more frequently, often during the night
- Needing to rush to the toilet
- Difficulty in starting to pee (hesitancy)
- Straining or taking a long time while peeing
- Weak flow
- Feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully
- Blood in urine or blood in semen.
These could also be symptoms of an enlarged prostate, but the only way to be sure is to book a doctor’s appointment.
The NHS says: “There’s no single, definitive test for prostate cancer.”
Testing would involve a urine sample, a blood sample, and a digital rectal examination.
Further examination might include scans and a biopsy if prostate cancer is suspected.
As with any type of cancer, the sooner a diagnosis is made, the better the outlook is likely to be.
Source: | This article first appeared on Express.co.uk
