Prostate Scotland
Telephone: 0131 603 8660
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a cancer of the prostate gland, a small gland at the base of the bladder in all males, as well as transgender women assigned as male at birth. It is the most common cancer in men in Scotland.
Patients with early prostate cancer often have no symptoms. However, it’s important to contact your GP practice as soon as possible if you have any of the symptoms below:
- Having to rush to the toilet to pee.
- Peeing more often or at night.
- Difficulty starting and stopping the flow when you pee.
- Dribbling after you pee.
- A feeling that you haven’t emptied your bladder completely.
- Problems getting or keeping an erection.
- Blood in your pee or semen.
Many of the symptoms are similar to other conditions so they don’t necessarily mean you have prostate cancer.
expands the full quotation and moves focus to the start of the 2nd paragraph, so you can continue to read the full quoteFinding prostate cancer early can make a big difference; there is a range of treatment options available to you that may have a higher success rate.
Not all patients with prostate cancer need treatment immediately. Some early-stage, low risk cancers are slow growing, and can be safely managed with Active Surveillance. This requires patients to be monitored closely and allows them to avoid side effects of treatments (surgery or radiotherapy) without a significant risk of their cancer growing or spreading.
Those at a higher risk of having prostate cancer, such as black men, men over the age of 50, and those with a family history of prostate or breast cancer, should be aware of any unusual or persisting changes. However not everyone gets symptoms. In case of concerns, please get checked or have a discussion. Diagnosing prostate cancer early gives us the best chance to support you in living well again.
Several factors can increase a man’s risk of developing prostate cancer, including age (50 years or older), race/ethnicity (black or mixed black ethnicity) or family history prostate cancer (father, brother or son), or family history of breast cancer (BRCA gene carriers).
If you have any concerns, you can speak to your doctor about your risk and how to get tested.
If you have symptoms, your GP practice wants to know. If it isn’t serious, the doctor or nurse can put your mind at ease. And if it is, finding out earlier means it’s more likely that treatments will be successful.
Many people put off getting symptoms checked as they’re worried they’ll be wasting the doctor’s or nurse’s time – or they might feel embarrassed. Remember, they see hundreds of patients every year and are here to help.
If you’d feel more comfortable with a male nurse or doctor, be sure to mention this when you contact your GP practice.
They might:
- Ask for a urine sample to check for infection.
- Arrange for a blood test to check your level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA).
- Perform any examination if required.
- Refer you to hospital either for tests or to see a specialist.
Depending on your PSA level, age and your other health conditions, you may be sent for further specialised tests including an MRI scan of the prostate or other types of scans, after which your urologist can discuss the next steps. Remember a raised PSA is not diagnostic for anything, and can have many causes.
Real stories
Now that I’m cancer-free and living well again, I’m making sure that I live life to the full - if we want to do it, we do it!
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Prostate Cancer UK
Telephone: (0800) 074 8383