KEY POINTS

  • Prostate cancer has taken the lives of many men across the globe
  • Health experts recommend that one way to fight it off is to have early treatment
  • Know the symptoms so that you may be able to find treatment

According to data made available by the Office for National Statistics, the number of men being killed by prostate cancer in the country has reached more than 12,000 annually. Prostate Cancer UK, a charitable organization that helps to increase awareness of the disease, said this is the first time it has happened. For the health organization, the situation is unacceptable.

The Death Toll

ONS data reveals that prostate cancer is responsible for 12, 031 deaths in 2017. This is the latest available figure, which shows that it increased from 11,637 compared to the previous year. In the year 2014, prostate cancer caused 11,307 deaths.

The likely cause for the increase may have been due to an aging populace. This means more men are being found to be suffering from the disease. Prostate Cancer UK said they view late diagnosis as a major barrier to lowering the number of deaths from the disease.

prostate cancer symptoms
prostate cancer symptoms StockSnap - Pixabay

Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

The National Health Service said symptoms of prostate cancer include the urgent need to urinate more often than necessary, particularly during nighttime and the urge to rush to the toilet. Finding it a bit difficult to urinate is another symptom of prostate cancer, and so is taking a long time or straining while urinating.

Other symptoms of prostate cancer include having a weak flow, the feeling that you have not emptied your bladder fully, and finding blood in your urine or blood in semen. Unfortunately, many prostate cancer types do not have any symptoms, especially if the cancer is located within the prostate. The prostate is a tiny gland the size of a walnut sitting below your bladder.

When cancer is located within the prostate, it is referred to as localized prostate cancer. It is also sometimes referred to as early prostate cancer. This means that the cancer is gradually growing. It is only when cancer speeds up its growth or is found to be spreading that symptoms usually occur.

When cancer has grown large enough, it may push against the urethra. This is the tube where urine passes through your body. When this happens, you will start experiencing a host of urinary problems.

Yet all of these may go unnoticed at the outset with symptoms so mild that you can hardly feel them at all. Over time, urinary troubles will start to manifest. The important thing is when you start feeling some of the symptoms, you immediately seek the advice of a doctor.