Prostate cancer is the most common form of male cancer, accounting for 1 in 4 cases of cancer in men. Prostate cancer is much more common in older men but it can affect men of all ages.
Symptoms
Symptoms of prostate cancer include a frequent need to urinate, a feeling of not having emptied the bladder properly despite regularly going to the loo, needing to urinate suddenly and hesitating before urinating. Symptoms of more advanced cancer include pain during urination or ejaculation, testicular pain, pain in the lower back and the bones and weight loss; in rare cases, there may be blood present in the urine.
Causes
The cause of prostate cancer is unknown; however there are some risk factors; these include age, being overweight and drinking regularly. Men of African-Caribbean heritage are also more likely to develop prostate cancer.
Reducing the risk
Lifestyle changes can drastically reduce the chance of getting prostate cancer; eating a healthy and balanced diet, exercising regularly, cutting down on alcohol and maintaining a stable, healthy bodyweight will all reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer.