19/11/2021
November is not just a month 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 for many life threatening diseases such as Prostate Cancer. Prevention is better than cure, and it is so easy to get information about your prostate health which could ultimately save and own your health.
Prostate Health – why talking about it now, can save a life later
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, almost everyone will survive their cancer for 5 years or more, but if caught at stage 4, this reduces to just a 30% survival rate. Cancer Research UK records that around 48,500 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK each year.
It can occur when some of the cells reproduce far quicker than normal, creating tumours that grow slowly at the start and potentially never causes problems. However, when untreated it could spread from the prostate to invade lymph nodes and bones producing secondary tumours.
Common issues men experience with poor prostate health include:
- Difficulty urinating – starting/holding back flow, painful/burning
- Blood in Urine or Semen
- Difficulty in having an erection
The primary method to test for these issues is a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Test. This test examines the concentration of antigen in your blood via a blood draw. Men aged 50 need to think about taking this test as it tends to affect them at a higher rate than younger men.
How can the Everyman Randox Health Check help?
PSA screening is not carried out routinely on the NHS, however the Randox Health Everyman Full Body Health Check uses a TPSA (Total Prostate Specific Antigen) Test. This is a more advanced test* providing a more accurate diagnosis to help men identify any issues with their prostate or any risk of future infection.
Our test results will show if your TPSA count is at an optimal or excessive level and the Everyman includes a follow up consultation to provide reviews for these findings as standard. On top of this, our full body health check provides up to 150 results on other key health areas such as heart, kidney, liver, diabetes, thyroid and many more.
*Please note that there are no specific blood tests for cancer. PSA is not a diagnostic for prostate cancer, but rather, for overall prostate health.
A high PSA result may suggest prostate cancer but other causes include an enlarged prostate, prostatitis, urinary tract infection, recent sex or ejaculation, recent prostate examination, recent prostate surgery, or some medications.