The symptoms you should look out for

PROSTATE cancer usually develops slowly, so there may be no signs someone has it for many years, according to the NHS.

Symptoms to look out for include frequent urination; weak or interrupted urine flow or the need to strain to empty the bladder; the urge to urinate frequently at night; blood in the urine; pain while urinating and erectile dysfunction.

If the cancer is at an early stage and not causing symptoms, a policy of “watchful waiting” or “active surveillance” may be adopted.

Some patients can be cured if the disease is treated in the early stages.

But if diagnosed at a later stage, when it has spread, then it becomes terminal and treatment revolves around relieving symptoms.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer to hit men, with an estimated 330,000 living with or having had treatment for the disease in Britain.

It is calculated that one in eight UK men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime, with that figure doubling for black men to one in four.

Men with relatives with prostate cancer are also twice as likely to develop the disease, with the average diagnosis being in those aged 65 to 69.

There is no national prostate screening programme as for years the tests have been too inaccurate.

Men over the age of 50 are eligible for a PSA blood test which gives doctors a rough idea of whether a patient is at risk.

Anyone with any concerns can speak to Prostate Cancer UK’s specialist nurses on 0800 074 8383 or visit prostatecanceruk.org