Prostate Cancer Third Biggest Killer

Calling all our men over 50, did you know prostate cancer has now overtaken breast cancer to become the third biggest killer from cancer in the UK?

According to The Guardian, Angela Culhane, Chief Executive of the charity Prostate Cancer UK which collated the figures, said the number of prostate cancer deaths had risen as a result of an ageing population.

The figures revealed that 11,819 men died in the UK from prostate cancer in 2015, overtaking breast cancer, which resulted in the deaths of 11,442 women.

If you take into account our aging population, deaths are coming down in both prostate and breast cancer, but due to the increasing population and the fact we are living longer, the figures are rising.

The way forward with this needs more emphasis and investment in screening services for prostate cancer. If you look at the success of breast cancer, there has been huge advances for women and the correlation between investment in research and then the progress that follows is in the reduction of deaths.

Prostate cancer can be a difficult one to spot as there are few symptoms. A third of men who are diagnosed already have advanced cancer. Earlier diagnosis and a better testing regime is what is needed.

For more information on what to look out for follow this link to the Guardian Article.  You can also find more information at: NHS Prostate Cancer – Symptoms.