health & safety


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 HEALTH & SAFETY INFORMATION BRIEFING Prostate Cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK with 1 in 8 men being diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their lives. Men of mixed race or black men are at higher risk – in black men the number of those diagnosed increases to 1 in 4. ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢

What is Prostate Cancer? Are you at risk? Do you know the signs and symptoms to look out for? How can you help prevent it or get it treated?

What is Prostate Cancer? The prostate is a gland, usually the size and shape of a walnut which grows bigger as you get older. It sits underneath the bladder and surrounds the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine (wee) out of the body. The prostate's main job is to help make semen – the fluid that carries sperm. Prostate cancer can develop when cells in the prostate start to grow in an uncontrolled way. Prostate cancer often grows slowly to start with and may never cause any problems, but some prostate cancer grows quickly and has a high risk of spreading. This is more likely to cause problems and needs treatment to stop it spreading. Are you at risk? Prostate cancer mainly affects men over 50 and the risk increases as you get older. If you are under 50, your risk of getting prostate cancer is very low; men under 50 can get it, but it isn’t common. You are more at risk if: You are aged between 65 and 69 years. You’re overweight or obese - you might have a higher risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer that’s aggressive (more likely to spread) or advanced (spread outside the prostate). You have family history - Men are 2½ times more likely to get prostate cancer if their father or brother has had it or if their mother or sister has had breast cancer. Having a family history doesn’t mean you will get it but it's important, when you see your GP to discuss any concerns, to tell the GP about your family history of prostate cancer or breast cancer. Signs and Symptoms? Some men with prostate cancer may have difficulty urinating. Men with prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body may feel pain in the back, hips or pelvis, or have problems getting or keeping an erection, blood in the urine, or unexplained weight loss. These symptoms can be caused by other things that aren’t prostate cancer but talk to your GP so they can find out what’s causing them. What should you do? If you are worried about your risk of prostate cancer, speak to your GP about tests for prostate cancer. If your GP considers that you are at high risk, he/she may advise you to have a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test. If you are aged under 50 but have a higher risk of prostate cancer because you have a family history of prostate cancer or you are a black man speak to your GP even if you don’t have any symptoms. Look out for prostate cancer awareness campaigns from your employer and talk to them about what support they provide. For more information and support go to https://prostatecanceruk.org/ or https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/

13th August 2019