Around 14,000 men in England could have undiagnosed prostate cancer and may be in need of urgent treatment, a charity has warned.
More than 58,000 men in England have begun treatment for prostate cancer since the start of the pandemic – 14,000 fewer than would have been expected in pre-pandemic numbers, according to Prostate Cancer UK.
The charity said it was concerned that the number of “missing” patients would continue to grow.
The condition is treatable if caught early, which is why the charity, along with NHS England, are working to find the “missing” patients.
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is known as a 'silent killer' due to not usually causing any symptoms until it has grown large enough to put pressure on the urethra.
According to the NHS, symptoms include:
- Needing to urinate more frequently, often at night
- Needing to rush to use the bathroom
- Straining or taking a long time to complete urination
- Difficulty in beginning to urinate
- A weak flow
- Feeling as though your bladder is not fully empty
- Blood in the urine
These symptoms do not always mean you have prostate cancer. Many men's prostates get larger as they get older because of a non-cancerous condition called benign prostate enlargement.
Signs the cancer may have spread include bone and back pain, a loss of appetite, pain in the testicles and unintentional weight loss.
