Prostate awareness must be boosted, charity warns

Prostate Cancer UK has warned that men in England are lethally ignorant of the incidence of prostate cancer and has called for more to be done to raise awareness of the disease.

Official data has shown that the prostate is the leading cause of cancer in men, with 40,000 diagnosed each year. A survey by the charity revealed that nearly one in five men were not aware they had a prostate and were ‘blind’ to the risk of cancer.

The prostate gland sits below the bladder, in front of the rectom and has a number of uses, including the production of semen. However, a survey of 3,500 men found that 92 per cent were clueless about the gland’s role, 54 per cent did not know where it was located and 17 per cent were unaware they had a prostate.

In an interview with the BBC, Angela Culhane, Prostate Cancer UK chief executive, said: "Men are very ignorant, and it's dangerous because prostate cancer is actually the most common cancer in men.

"The things it does affect - ejaculation and sexual function, urine flow and incontinence - are not regularly talked about over the dinner table or in the pub. A man in his 30s with none of the risk factors shouldn't be overly worried - but for men at higher risk, they should have a conversation with their GP or one of our specialist nurses.

"If they have a family history, are black [black men are twice as likely to develop prostate cancer as the overall population] or are over 50, then, generally, they should be thinking about having a conversation.

"As a country, we need to wake up and stop men dying needlessly. Ignoring prostate cancer won't beat it - only fighting it will."