HEALTH

Black men have double the risk of prostate cancer compared to white men, but new research released today shows 51% of GPs are unaware of this.

And the national survey of over 400 doctors by Prostate Cancer UK revealed only 7% will start a conversation about it with black patients who have a known family history of the disease.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK with more than 40,000 new cases every year, killing one victim every 45 minutes.

It usually develops slowly so there may be no symptoms for years until the prostate is enlarged enough to affect the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis).

When this happens sufferers notice an increased need to urinate and a feeling the bladder has not fully emptied.

For reasons not yet understood, it is more common in men of African-Caribbean or African descent and less common in Asian men.

Almost a third of GPs (32%) in regions with large black populations were unaware of the crucial risk factor.

And a separate survey revealed 86% of black men are unaware that their risk is above average.

Tony Wong, head of Prostate Cancer UK’s Men at Risk programme said: “GPs today face growing pressure to start conversations with patients regarding an ever-growing list of medical conditions.

“As a result conversations about prostate cancer risk are all too often slipping through the net.”

Diagnosis usually comes via a PSA blood test – and from the age of 45-50 all men should be discussing this with their GP.

MARTIN BAGOT is the Mirror’s Health and Science Correspondent