19/11/2021
This Men’s Health Month we are encouraging men to take control of their health. November isn’t just a time where men can flaunt their most eccentric moustaches, but a month where we get to put Men’s health under the spotlight and raise awareness of life threatening diseases such as Prostate Cancer.
Men’s Health – Prostate Cancer Risk
Prostate cancer is the most common cause of cancer in men across the UK, however if it is detected early enough, the outlook for patients is extremely positive. If caught at stage 1, most men will survive their cancer for 5 years or more, but if caught at stage 4, survival rate is reduced to 30%. Cancer Research UK records that around 48,500 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK each year.
Common prostate symptoms to be aware of include:
- Difficulty urinating – starting/holding back flow, painful/burning
- Blood in Urine or Semen
- Difficulty in having an erection
These symptoms are not specific to prostate cancer and could be due to an unrelated issue. That’s why the primary method of assessing prostate cancer risk is the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Test. A PSA test measures the levels of PSA in your blood. Men over 50 should think about taking having a PSA test as prostate cancer tends to affect them at a higher rate than younger men.
How can the Everyman Randox Health Check help?
The Randox Health Everyman Full Body Health Check includes PSA testing in addition to biomarkers related to overall health and wellbeing including key health areas such as heart, kidney, liver, diabetes, thyroid and many more.
It is important to note that a high PSA test result may suggest prostate cancer but other causes of high PSA levels include an enlarged prostate, prostatitis, urinary tract infection, recent sex or ejaculation, recent prostate examination, recent prostate surgery, or some medications.