Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, with around 52,000 new cases diagnosed each year. It mainly affects men over 50 and is more common in men of Black African or Black Caribbean descent.
In its early stages, prostate cancer may not cause any symptoms. As the disease progresses, symptoms may include:
- Needing to urinate more frequently, often at night
- Difficulty starting or stopping urination
- A weak flow or feeling the bladder has not fully emptied
- Blood in the urine or semen
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by the prostate gland. Elevated PSA levels can indicate prostate cancer, but can also be raised by non-cancerous conditions such as benign prostate enlargement and prostatitis. The free PSA to total PSA ratio helps distinguish between cancerous and non-cancerous causes.
Polygenic risk scores provide additional insight into genetic susceptibility and can help guide decisions about screening and monitoring.
Causes of Prostate cancer
The exact cause of prostate cancer is not known, but several risk factors have been identified:
- Age is the strongest risk factor. Prostate cancer is rare in men under 50 and most cases are diagnosed in men over 65
- Ethnicity significantly influences risk. Men of Black African or Black Caribbean descent are approximately twice as likely to develop prostate cancer as white men. Asian men have a lower risk
- Family history increases risk. Having a father or brother diagnosed with prostate cancer roughly doubles an individual's risk. Risk is higher still if the relative was diagnosed before age 60
- Genetics, including mutations in BRCA2 (and to a lesser extent BRCA1), increase prostate cancer risk. Polygenic risk scores evaluate the cumulative effect of many common genetic variants
- Obesity is associated with a higher risk of aggressive prostate cancer
There is no proven way to prevent prostate cancer, but maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active may reduce risk.
Tests that can help check this condition
Learn more on the official NHS page .
