March for Men is on 23rd July this year

What is it?

One of the many events hosted by Prostate Cancer UK to raise money and awareness for prostate cancer.

“Walk with us and thousands of others in Battersea Park on Sunday 23 July 2023 and raise money to fund vital prostate cancer research to save men’s lives”

— Prostate Cancer UK

What other events are there?

Prostate cancer UK run lots of events – see here for further information –

https://prostatecanceruk.org/get-involved/find-a-fundraising-event

About Prostate Cancer UK

For the past 25 years Prostate cancer UK have both funded and been the catalyst for some of the largest breakthroughs in prostate cancer care. (Prostate Cancer UK, 2018).

From diagnosis to treatment, Prostate Cancer UK have been instrumental in making headway and changes through their unwavering research, hard work, and dedication.

“We have a bold ambition: to stop prostate cancer limiting men’s lives. And it’s through funding research that we will make this happen.”

— (Prostate Cancer UK, 2018).

What is prostate cancer and who can it affect?

Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that affects the prostate gland. Cancer develops when abnormal cells begin to proliferate and expand uncontrollably. The cells might spread to other parts of the body and develop into neighbouring tissues or organs.

The male reproductive system includes the prostate gland. (Cancer Research UK, 2019).

The prostate gland is located at the base of the bladder. It is around the size of a walnut and grows larger as men age.

The prostate encircles the initial section of the tube that transports urine from the bladder to the penis. This tube is known as the urethra. The urethra also transports semen, which is sperm-containing fluid.

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by the prostate gland. PSA levels can be determined using a blood test. (Cancer Research UK, 2019).

The signs and symptoms are discussed below in the following video -

Some statistics about the prevalence of prostate cancer in the UK

Treatments available

Treatment for prostate cancer will be determined by your unique circumstances. Many men with prostate cancer will not require treatment.

When therapy is required, the goal is to cure or control the disease so that it has the least impact on daily life and does not reduce life expectancy.

When cancer has spread, the goal is sometimes not to cure it, but to prolong life and delay symptoms. (NHS, 2019).

There are a vast array of treatment options available depending on the type and stage of prostate cancer. These include –

Watchful waiting
Active Surveillance
Surgically removing the prostate gland (radical prostatectomy)
Radiotherapy
Brachytherapy
Hormone Therapy
Trans-urethral resection of the prostate (TURP)
High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU)
Cryotherapy
Chemotherapy
Steroidal treatment

You can read more about the different treatments at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/treatment/

Further support links

There is a lot of support available to men suffering with prostate cancer. Here are some useful links to where you can find out more about the diagnosis, risk factors and treatment options and speak to someone for support.

https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information-and-support/get-support

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/prostate-cancer

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/prostate-cancer

https://tackleprostate.org/

Prostate Cancer UK (2018). Prostate Cancer UK. [online] Prostate Cancer UK. Available at: https://prostatecanceruk.org/.

Cancer Research UK (2019). Cancer Research UK. [online] Cancerresearchuk.org. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/prostate-cancer/about.

NHS (2019). Treatment - Prostate cancer. [online] NHS. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/treatment/.