Local Life - St Helens - March 2018

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is more likely to spread and treatment is necessary
to stop it spreading outside the prostate.
If contained within the prostate (localised prostate
cancer or early prostate cancer) there usually are no
symptoms, but some men may suffer from urinary
problems. These can be mild and happen over
many years and may be a sign of a benign prostate
problem, rather than prostate cancer.
The risk
Prostate cancer mainly affects men over 50, and
the risk increases with age, and the average age for
diagnosis is between 65 and 69 years. Men under
50 can get it, but it isn’t common. But, you may also
have a high risk if you’re over 45 and have a family
history of prostate cancer or are a black man.
If you’re worried about your risk, do speak to your
GP.
You are two and a half times more likely to get
prostate cancer if your father or brother had it,
compared to a man who has no relatives with
prostate cancer. And the chance may be greater
if your father or brother, or more than one close
relative was under 60 when diagnosed.
If your mother or sister had breast cancer, and were
diagnosed under the age of 60 and had faults in
genes called BRCA1 or BRCA2 your risk of getting
prostate cancer is higher.
Although your risk of getting prostate cancer may
be higher due to the factors given above, it doesn’t
mean you will get it.
March for Men
Official fundraising events will be held across
the summer months in aid of Prostate Cancer UK
known as ‘March for Men.’ After last year’s amazing
charity walks by Jeff Stelling and thousands of our
supporters, it’s time to march again in 2018.
On Sunday, June 10, March for Men will be making
its way to Wythenshawe Park, Manchester.