Raising awareness of men’s health and prostate cancer
Each November, the Movember Foundation campaign encourages men to speak more openly about their health, with a particular focus on raising awareness of prostate cancer, testicular cancer and suicide prevention.
Prostate cancer continues to be the most common form of cancer for men in the UK, affecting 1 in 8 men. 1 in 41 men will die of prostate cancer. Awareness of the risk factors and screening options remains worryingly low.
At Wessex Private GP, we support men in understanding their risks through early assessment and personalised care, enabling them to make informed decisions.
Understanding the risk
While many cases develop slowly and may not cause symptoms in the early stages, some forms can be more aggressive. Age remains the most substantial risk factor; the likelihood rises significantly after the age of 50, however, men of African or Caribbean heritage and those with a family history of prostate or breast cancer also face a higher lifetime risk. If you have such a family history, I advise screening from aged 40.
Despite these known associations, early prostate cancer often presents no noticeable symptoms. Many men remain unaware of their risk until the disease has progressed. Dermot Murnaghan admitted he delayed testing because he felt ‘fine’, despite being in a higher-risk group.
Men’s health and prostate health checks
At Wessex Private GP, we offer two options to support men’s health. The Men’s Health & Wellness Medical takes a broader look at overall wellbeing, including lifestyle, cardiovascular risk, hormones and prostate profile. It includes a complete medical history, examination and comprehensive blood testing, with personalised recommendations based on your results.
The Prostate Health Review is a shorter, focused appointment for men who want to assess prostate cancer risk or address urinary symptoms specifically. This involves reviewing your medical and family history, assessing PSA and examining kidney function. If further imaging, such as prostate MRI, is recommended, we can arrange this promptly. In a new development, we are able to provide the Stockholm 3 blood test, an evidence-based test that can help stratify risk in those aged 45-75 with a PSA between 1.5 and 20.
In each case, results and next steps are clearly explained, ensuring you feel informed and supported. If required, we can refer you to a private Consultant Urologist, or through the NHS Early detection of Cancer pathway.
We emphasise that even if you ‘feel fine’, a review is worthwhile. Early detection gives you a broader range of choices.
Why early review matters
Early assessment provides several significant advantages. First, it allows time for a thoughtful decision-making process: you can understand the different pathways (monitor, intervene, refer) rather than responding to a crisis.
Earlier-stage cancers tend to be more treatable with fewer side effects, and the treatments required may be less intensive. Prostate cancer diagnosed at stage 1 or 2 has a 100 % 5-year survival, Stage 3-4 a 30-40 % survival.
In addition, knowing your baseline risk enables you to establish a clear future screening pathway, as well as attending to lifestyle factors.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in men aged 35-80 and is preventable. In 25 % of cases, the first presentation is sudden death. Awareness of your family history, cholesterol profile, blood pressure and, very importantly, family history is crucial in assessing your risk, and then reducing that risk, maybe with mediation or lifestyle modifications. We access the most up to date cholesterol analysis, screening with CTCa (CT coronary calcium scores), and can access Consultant cardiological expertise.
In summary, health outcomes are significantly better with early treatment and identification of risk. A simple conversation with our experienced GP’s is an essential first step. For your own sake and for your family, we encourage you to make the time to do just that.
For more advice, you can book a consultation to discuss your screening options. Alternatively, if you already know what you need, you can book your men’s health and wellness medical review or prostate health review on our booking page here.
