Help Keep Your Man Healthy

Men aren’t always great at keeping on top of their wellbeing. Here’s what you need to know about two of the biggest threats to his health

Prostate cancer

Prostate enlargement commonly starts around the age of 50, affecting three-quarters of men in their 70s. Most cases are benign (BPH), but one in eight men develops prostate cancer – around 47,000 new cases, and over 10,000 deaths each year. But UK survival rates have tripled in the last 40 years, and more than 80% of affected men live at least another 10 years.

Your man is more at risk if he has a family history of prostate cancer, is black African/Caribbean, has had another cancer, or is tall/ overweight. Every four-inch increase in a man’s waistline may raise his risk of fatal prostate cancer by 13%, so a healthy diet and regular exercise could help.

Symptoms

The prostate surrounds the urethra, the bladder’s outlet pipe. As it enlarges, it can slow urine flow and cause frequent, urgent or painful urination; a poor or hesitant stream; blood in urine; infections; or even total blockage. These symptoms may be caused by prostate cancer, BPH or other conditions. Prostate cancer may spread to bones and other organs, so pain, weight loss and/or symptoms elsewhere may be the first signs.

Tests

If your man has symptoms, it’s safest to get them checked out, although they’ll probably turn out not to be cancer. Many men put it off because they’re worried about having an uncomfortable back passage examination, but it doesn’t take long and helps the doctor to decide whether he needs an urgent referral for suspected cancer. He’ll also need a PSA blood test (see right) and urine checks for blood and infection.

His GP may refer him to a urologist. He may need a biopsy (a tissue sample taken using a local anaesthetic), before or after a magnetic resonance scan. He may also need a bone or CT scan, or X-rays.

Treatment