How is Your Prostate?

Fear, Ignorance and Lack of Access to doctors stops Scottish men from having their prostrate checked, according to a recent poll for Prostate Awareness Week.

An ICM poll commissioned by The Prostate Cancer Charity asked men over 45 years of age what would most stop them from visiting their GP, if they were getting up to pee several times at night. The findings paint a shocking picture of fear, lack of awareness about the symptoms of prostate cancer and most worryingly, men not being able to get an appointment to see their doctor.

Men admitted that they would find all kinds of excuses to avoid going to the doctor. The main reasons given for delaying include:

• Almost 1 in 3 (28%) men thought is was normal for their age to get up many times at night to pee
  
• Over a quarter (26%) thought they wouldn’t be able to get a GP appointment so wouldn’t bother
  
• More than a fifth (22%) were frightened and thought it meant they had prostate cancer
  
• Sixteen percent (16%) admitted to being concerned that they might need a rectal examination

The Prostate Cancer Charity Chief Executive, John Neate, said, “It’s amazing that so many men have such low expectations of their quality of life, as they get older, and are prepared to accept uncomfortable symptoms as normal and simply not visit their GP.

“Until men have been to a GP, they won’t know why they are getting up several times at night to pee. Although this can be a symptom of prostate cancer, it can also be due to treatable age related, benign changes in the prostate. It is concerning that a fear of a prostate cancer diagnosis might stop men taking the first vital steps to understanding what is wrong with them.”

The ICM poll commissioned by The Prostate Cancer Charity also asked men what they thought was the key role of the prostate gland - a third (33%) correctly answered that it was important for sexual function.

Mr Neate said, “We asked this question in a similar poll last year and only 13 per cent of men knew what the prostate gland did. Whilst the increase in knowledge is encouraging and most welcome, crucially, 7 in 10 men still don’t know about their prostate gland and the vital role it plays in their lives.

“We certainly don’t want men to panic about getting prostate cancer, but we do want far more men to be aware of their risks of this disease and their health in general.”

Launching The Prostate Cancer Charity’s annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Week (10-16 March), Mr Neate added, “The risk of prostate cancer increases with age and if you have a father or brother who has had the disease. A man is three times more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer if he is from an African Caribbean background.

“The strongest advances in tackling this disease will come when men make it their business to understand prostate cancer and press their demands for more spending on research and improved health services, support and information. Prostate Cancer Awareness Week provides an opportunity fo s all to do just that.”

Commenting on the growing support for the Charity’s awareness campaign, Mr. Neate said, “We are delighted that this year Stephen Gately and Kyran Bracken are supporting our awareness campaign. Having support from high profile men will help the Charity to engage men and to shatter the myths about a disease that affects more than 2,500 men in Scotland every year.”

Boyzone band member, Stephen Gately, is backing this year’s Prostate Cancer Awareness Week. He said, “I was shocked to discover that one man every hour dies from this disease. Just like me, many men are scared about going to the doctor but this isn’t just about us. I would encourage all men to think of their loved ones and overcome their embarrassment and visit their doctor if they have any concerns.”

The ex-England Rugby legend and Dancing on Ice Champion, Kyran Bracken, said, “It is time that as men we put any ignorance aside, look after our health and know about prostate cancer.”

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men in Scotland and the UK. Every year more than 2,500 men are diagnosed in Scotland with prostate cancer and nearly 800 will die from the disease.

Incidences of prostate cancer have risen by 16% on the last decade (Source: ISD Scotland)

The Prostate Cancer Charity’s work in Scotland

Formed in 1996, The Prostate Cancer Charity is the UK’s largest charity in the field of prostate cancer and provides support and information to men with prostate cancer and their families. The charity also funds research into the causes, prevention, impact and treatment of prostate cancer.

If you have any queries about prostate ,call The Prostate Cancer Charity’s confidential helpline 0800 074 8383 which is staffed by specialist nurses and open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday and Wednesdays from 7 - 9pm or visit www.prostate-cancer.org.uk