What Is It?
Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the prostate gland — a small, walnut-sized organ found only in men, located just below the bladder. It helps produce semen. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, especially in those over the age of 50.
Many prostate cancers grow slowly and may not cause problems, but some types are more aggressive and can spread to other parts of the body.
What Causes It?
The exact cause of prostate cancer isn’t fully understood, but several risk factors can increase your chance of developing it:
- Age – risk increases significantly after age 50
- Family history – having a father or brother with prostate cancer raises your risk
- Ethnicity – more common and often more aggressive in Black men
- Obesity and diet – may increase the risk or affect how the cancer behaves
- Hormonal factors – testosterone may influence how the cancer grows
Common Symptoms
In the early stages, prostate cancer may not cause any symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they may include:
- Difficulty starting or stopping urination
- A weak urine stream
- Needing to urinate more often, especially at night
- Feeling that the bladder hasn’t emptied fully
- Pain or burning during urination (less common)
- Blood in the urine or semen
- Pain in the back, hips, or pelvis (can be a sign of advanced disease)
Note: These symptoms can also be caused by benign prostate conditions, like BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia), so it’s important to get checked.
How Is It Diagnosed?
Your doctor may recommend tests such as:
- PSA blood test – checks for raised levels of prostate-specific antigen
- Digital rectal examination (DRE) – a physical check of the prostate
- MRI scan – provides detailed images of the prostate
- Prostate biopsy – a sample of tissue is taken to confirm the diagnosis
- Transperineal prostate biopsy – a modern and more accurate approach using local or general anaesthetic
If cancer is confirmed, further scans may be done to see if it has spread.
How Is It Treated?
Treatment depends on how advanced the cancer is, your age, overall health, and personal preference. Options may include:
- Active surveillance – for slow-growing cancers that may not need immediate treatment
- Surgery – removal of the prostate gland (radical prostatectomy)
- Radiotherapy – high-energy rays to kill cancer cells
- Hormone therapy – slows the growth by reducing testosterone levels
- Chemotherapy – usually for advanced or aggressive cancer
- Newer treatments – including targeted therapies or immunotherapy in some cases
Outlook
Many men with prostate cancer live long, healthy lives — especially when the cancer is caught early. Treatment has improved significantly in recent years, and survival rates are high for localised disease.
When to See a Health professional
If you’re over 50 — or over 45 with risk factors (like a family history or Black ethnicity) — talk to your GP about prostate health and whether you should consider a PSA test.
Early detection offers the best chance for effective treatment.