When to get checked out:
- If you are over 50, you should see your doctor every year for a check-up.
- If you have a family history of prostate cancer you should have regular check-ups from the age of 40.
Facts
- 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime
- Many with early prostate cancer have no symptoms
- If discovered early, prostate cancer can usually be treated successfully.
Risks
The most common risk factors for prostate cancer include:
- Age: As men grow older, the risk of prostate cancer increases. Prostate cancer mainly affects men over the age of 50.
- Family history: If an immediate family member (father or brother) has had prostate cancer, you are thought to be 2 times more likely to get this cancer. The risk is higher again if your relative had prostate cancer at a young age or if you have more than one relative from the same side of the family with prostate cancer.
- Risk factors increase your chance of getting prostate cancer. Having a risk factor doesn’t mean you will get prostate cancer.
- Some people with no risk factors may get the disease.
Symptoms
Many men with early prostate cancer have no symptoms at all. Others may have some symptoms like difficulty urinating:
- Going more often than usual, especially at night
- Stopping and starting
- Feeling of not completely emptied the bladder
- Pain or discomfort
These symptoms can be caused by other things, but always get them checked out.
For more on the Blue Power Prostate Health Programme, visit https://www.cornmarket.ie/pink-blue-power/
For more on prostate health, visit Irish Cancer Society
Information sourced from Irish Cancer Society, November 2022.