Prostate cancer occurs when cells within the prostate gland start to divide and grow in an uncontrolled way. The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system – it is about the size of a walnut, and lies at the base of the bladder, wrapped around the first part of the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis.
Prostate cancer is more common in older men, with 35% of new cases being in men aged 75 or over. The risk of getting prostate cancer also differs between ethnicities, with black men being at increased risk. Having a family history of prostate cancer can also increase your risk.
Over 50,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. Often there are no symptoms in the early stages, and although there is no official screening programme for prostate cancer in the UK, some people prefer to get checked from time to time, particularly if they are in a higher risk group.
To find out more about screening tests for prostate cancer and PSA Testing, please click on the links below: