What is prostate cancer?

The prostate is a gland found in men and people assigned male at birth. It is about the size of a walnut and lies below your bladder, just in front of your rectum or back passage.

Prostate cancer develops when normal prostate cells change and grow in an abnormal and uncontrolled way. These abnormal cells can form a tumour in your prostate gland. It can usually be treated successfully if it is found early.

Prostate cancer is the 2nd most common cancer in Ireland, after skin cancer. Most prostate cancers occur in men who are over the age of 50. Younger men can get it too, but it is rare in men under 40.

Spotting cancer early is important. Look for any symptoms or changes that are unusual for you.

Symptoms may include: needing to pee more often, especially at night. A slow flow of urine. Trouble stopping or starting the flow of urine. Or a feeling of not having emptied your bladder properly. A less common symptom may be blood in your urine and/or in your semen. These symptoms may also be caused by other things, but it is important to get checked with your doctor.

Your doctor will examine you and you may have: A digital rectal examination. This means that your doctor will feel your prostate gland by putting a gloved finger into your rectum or back passage to feel if your prostate gland is enlarged or abnormal. A blood test called a prostate specific antigen test, also known as a PSA test. This measures how much PSA protein is in your blood. A raised PSA blood test may suggest you have a problem with your prostate, but it doesn't always mean cancer. PSA levels often rise as you get older. If your PSA is higher than normal for your age, your doctor may repeat this test, usually 6 weeks later.

If your PSA continues to be high, your doctor may refer you to a specialist doctor called a urologist, for more tests such as: an MRI scan. This is a scan that will give a more detailed picture of your prostate gland. A biopsy. This involves taking some cells from the prostate tissue and looking at them under a microscope to see if they are cancerous or not.

The main types of prostate cancer are: early prostate cancer. This is prostate cancer found only within the prostate gland and has not spread outside the prostate gland. Locally advanced prostate cancer. This is when the cancer has spread outside the prostate gland to nearby tissues. Advanced or metastatic prostate cancer. This is when prostate cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body.

Prostate cancer may be treated with: Surgery, to remove the tumour and the prostate gland. Radiotherapy. This uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. Hormone therapy. This works by blocking the effect of the hormone testosterone on the prostate cancer cells. And chemotherapy, which are drugs to control the cancer. Sometimes a combination of treatments are given to treat prostate cancer.

Some men may be on active surveillance. This means you don't start treatment straight away. Instead, you have regular tests like blood tests, digital rectal examinations, scans, and sometimes repeat biopsies to spot any changes or activity in your cancer. For active surveillance, you will start treatment as soon as you need it. This is a treatment option for very slow growing prostate cancer.

Most prostate cancers can be cured or controlled and research into new treatments is improving outcomes for prostate cancer all the time.

We don't know exactly what causes many cancers, but there are things that can increase your risk of getting prostate cancer, such as: your risk increases as you get older. If you have a family history of prostate cancer, especially in a father or a brother. The risk is increased if your father or brother had prostate cancer under the age of 60. If you are black, you have an increased risk of prostate cancer. Lifestyle factors such as being overweight and not being active may also increase your risk.

There are simple steps you can take to reduce your risk of prostate cancer, such as: getting checked, if you are over 50, you should see your doctor every year for a check-up and a PSA test. Have a healthy diet. Be a healthy weight. Be active with regular exercise.

If you are black and you are over 45, speak to your doctor about your risk of prostate cancer.

Spotting cancer early is important. Look out for signs and symptoms of prostate cancer. Talk to your doctor if you notice anything unusual for you.

For more information about prostate cancer, go to our website: cancer.ie/prostate

You can also call our Support Line free of charge and talk to one of our cancer nurses on 1800 200 700

Or you can email our cancer nurses on the Support Line at: supportline@irishcancer.ie