Prostate overtakes breast as most common cancer – after ‘Stephen Fry and Bill Turnbull effect’
PROSTATE cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in England, according to latest figures.
The disease has overtaken breast cancer for the first time - as the number of men diagnosed rose significantly last year.
In 2018, there were nearly 50,000 registered cases - around 8,000 more than in 2017.
Public Health England says this surge in men diagnosed is due to the fact more people are getting tested.
And it is down to celebrities, like former BBC news presenter Bill Turnbull and TV star Stephen Fry, for raising awareness and speaking out about their own experiences.
In 2018, there were 316,680 cancers of any kind diagnosed, the equivalent of 868 cases a day.
Prostate was the most common type - 49,029 cases - followed by breast - 47,476 cases.
Lung and bowel cancers were the next most commonly diagnosed.
It comes after Bill Turnbull, 64, went public with his prostate cancer diagnosis in March 2018, encouraging others to get tested.
Bill, whose cancer has now spread to his bones, including the pelvis and ribs, said: "Maybe if I'd got it earlier and stopped it at the prostate, I'd be in a much better state."
He also revealed that since opening up about his diagnosis, lots of men had got in touch to let him know he had encouraged them to go and get checked.
A lot of men got in touch to say they had gone to get checked
Bill Turnbull
Bill explained: “A lot of men got in touch to say they had gone to get checked.
"And a number of wives told me they’d made their husbands go.
“Some have written to let me know what happened next.
“'Dear Bill, I thank you for my husband’s life. After watching you on television a few months ago my husband reluctantly went for a PSA blood test.
“'He was found to have prostate cancer and had his prostate removed. He has had the all-clear'.”
In February 2018, comedian Stephen Fry, 60, said he was recovering after having prostate cancer surgery, saying it was "thankfully caught in the nick of time";.
He said: "Cancer is a word that rings in your head: 'Good heavens Stephen, you're not supposed to have cancer'.
"You don't think it could to happen to you - cancer is something that happens to other people."
According to the head of the NHS, the coverage of Bill and Stephen's treatments had triggered an increase in men getting checked.
Cancer tsar Prof Peter Johnson said: "As people live longer, we're likely to see prostate cancer diagnosed more often, and with well-known figures like Rod Stewart, Stephen Fry and Bill Turnbull all talking openly about their diagnosis, more people will be aware of the risk."
He said more people coming forward for checks and care meant the disease increasingly is detected at an early stage, when treatment is most successful and survival chances are highest.
Signs of prostate cancer
Prostate cancer does not usually cause any symptoms until the cancer has grown large enough to put pressure on the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the penis (urethra).
Symptoms of prostate cancer can include:
- Needing to pee more frequently, often during the night
- Needing to rush to the toilet
- Difficulty in starting to pee (hesitancy)
- Straining or taking a long time while peeing
- Weak flow
- Feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully
- Blood in urine or blood in semen
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 prostate enlargement.
Signs that the cancer may have spread include bone and back pain, a loss of appetite, pain in the testicles and unexplained weight loss.
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Lucy Elliss-Brookes, Head of Cancer Analysis at Public Health England, said: "Although we are seeing a continued rise in cancer diagnoses, it's encouraging that we are also seeing increases in survival, as well as an overall decrease in emergency diagnoses of cancer."
Despite this, Lynda Thomas, Chief Executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, said the increasing numbers came at a time when the NHS and social care services were under pressure, with long waiting times for cancer diagnosis and treatment.
She added: "While it’s good news that more people are seeing their doctor to check for cancer, these increasing numbers come at a time when our NHS and social care services are hanging by a thread.
More on prostate cancer
"The pressure is piling up on hardworking staff and long waiting times for cancer diagnosis and treatment are testament to the devastating impact this is having on patients.
"People living with cancer deserve personalised care that meets their individual needs, not a ‘one size fits all’ approach from an NHS struggling to keep pace with demand.
"It’s more urgent than ever that the new government prioritises a plan to grow and fund a cancer workforce fit for the future before the system completely collapses."