2 June 2009
One man every hour dies of prostate cancer in the UK¹, which is why doctors at Epsom and St Helier hospitals are urging local people to be aware of the risks and symptoms of the disease.
Roger Walker, consultant urologist at the Trust, specialises in treating the condition. He said: "Raising awareness of prostate cancer is incredibly important because if we catch the disease early enough there are a number of ways to treat it, and it can be curable.
"Unfortunately, it can be difficult to spot and so it's vital that men can recognise the symptoms and are willing to discuss the disease."
One man who knows how important it is to talk about prostate cancer is George Street, aged 70, from Leatherhead. He was diagnosed with the disease after following a friend's advice to go for a check up at his GP's surgery.
Mr Street said: "I knew that I had reached a certain age, and it was probably time for me to get a check up, but what prompted me to do it was a conversation I had with someone at the pub. He told me that he'd gone for a check up, was diagnosed and had to have a prostatectomy.
"I went to my GP and sure enough, there was something wrong. I was then referred to St Helier Hospital for further tests.
"It's always going to be a shock when you find out you have prostate cancer, and there's no way around that. But the experts at the Trust have done a great job in explaining everything to me and getting me seen and treated quickly.
"It is hard to face cancer, but knowing that people are concerned about you and you are being seen by some of the best experts in the country is very reassuring.
"What's happened to me is not unique though - I'm no exception. Cancer, unfortunately, is something that many of us are affected by. The frightening thing is that prostate cancer is talked about so little, and the symptoms are hard to spot. Personally, I feel as fit as a butcher's dog. It's just really lucky I went to the pub and had that conversation."
Mr Street's prostate cancer is being treated and looks like it could be curable. However, he is currently undergoing further tests to make sure the cancer hasn't spread.
Prostate cancer, which is the most common cancer in men in the UK, can often be very slow to grow and may never progress or require treatment. However, it is incredibly important that any prostate cancers are tested regularly so that growing cancers can be treated quickly.
Symptoms of prostate cancer include:
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A weak or reduced urine flow
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Needing to urinate more often, especially at night
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A feeling that your bladder has not emptied properly
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Difficulty starting to pass urine
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Dribbling urine
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Needing to rush to the toilet - you may occasionally leak urine before you get there
Less common symptoms include:
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Pain when passing urine
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Pain when ejaculating
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Pain in the testicles
The Trust's urology department hit all of its key targets last year, meaning that patients are receiving the best of care quickly. In line with government standards, 100 per cent of urology patients were seen within 14 days of their referral to the Trust; 98 per cent of patients received treatment within 31 days of their 'decision to treat' consultation (where options and choices for the patient's care are discussed and decided upon); and 95 per cent of patients were treated within 62 days.
In 2008, 584 patients were referred to the Trust as urgent suspected urological cancer by GPs. Of these, 146 were actually diagnosed as having cancer and were treated.
¹Source: The Prostate Cancer Charity.
