Act early and stop disease in its tracks

screening – in which every man of a certain age is invited for a test, whether they have symptoms or not. This currently exists for breast cancer but prostate tests are not yet good enough. Advances in MRI scanning show promise but are still being tested. Instead men are left to request a PSA blood test from their GP – which they are eligible for from 50.

This is far from accurate, and even if it raises red flags a biopsy follows, which itself can be inacstarted

ONE of the warning signs of prostate cancer is going to the toilet more often, particularly at night. As are taking longer to go to the toilet, starting and stopping, pain, a burning sensation and blood in the urine.

The quicker you act the more likely you are to survive. Men over 50 can request a free PSA test – which measures the level of prostatespecific antigen in the blood. A high reading can be a sign of cancer. But the test is not wholly accurate. Your GP will carry out other examinations before deciding whether you should see a specialist. Most men with high readings will then have a biopsy.

Prostate cancer mostly affects men over 50. Those whose fathers or brothers have had it are two- and- ahalf times more likely to be diagnosed.

Men are also at risk if their mother or sister has had breast cancer under the age of 60 as it is caused by the same genes. Black men are more likely to get prostate cancer, as are men who are overweight or obese.

curate problems. Professor Ahmed said: ‘ We should be formalising a really robust [ testing] strategy to make sure aggressive prostate cancer is picked up.’

Professor Stephen Powis, of the NHS, said: ‘ The NHS Long Term Plan is accelerating action to detect and treat more cancers at an earlier stage when the chance of survival is highest.’