A recent study by Prostate Cancer UK has indicated that a lack of awareness about the disease could put thousands of men at risk. This comes as a result of the disease often exhibiting no early symptoms, a fact that is not commonly known among men.
Prostate cancer is the most prevalent form affecting men, with many cases recorded annually in the US and the UK. Contrary to the common belief that early-stage cancer will present noticeable symptoms, prostate cancer usually doesn’t display any indications until it’s advanced and incurable, according to Chiara De Biase from Prostate Cancer UK.
De Biase highlighted the dangers of this misinformation, suggesting it might deter men from seeking early diagnoses that could be life-saving. “Everyone has gaps in their knowledge, and many people believe things that aren’t accurate. Men’s health is no exception to this,” she added.
The charity’s survey, which took into account the responses of roughly 2,000 men in the UK, revealed that almost half of the participants did not know the location of the prostate gland, while three-quarters were unaware of its function. More than half of the respondents mistakenly assumed that their doctors would invite them for testing once they reached a certain age, even though no national screening program exists to detect the disease in its early stages.
“Too few men understand the primary risk factors of prostate cancer,” De Biase pointed out, encouraging men to use the charity’s online risk checker. The disease mainly affects men over 50, and the risk intensifies with age. Statistics show that one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime.
