PROSTATE cancer is the most common cancer in men, affecting approximately one in eight Brits at some point in their lifetime.
But many won't experience symptoms from the disease until it's quite far along.
It's not always a life threatening disease – but the earlier you catch it, the more likely it is to be cured.
If you think you many be affected, asking yourself three questions can help predict your risk of getting prostate cancer, as some factors mean you're more likely to develop it.
1. How old are you?
Prostate cancer mainly affects men aged 50 and over, and your risk increases as you get older, according to Prostate Cancer UK.
The most common age for men to be diagnosed with prostate cancer is between 70 and 74 years, the charity added.
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2. Do you have a family history of prostate cancer?
If your father or brother had prostate cancer, that might mean your risk is higher too.
As Prostate Cancer UK put it: "You are two and a half times more likely to get prostate cancer if your father or brother has had it, compared to a man who has no relatives with prostate cancer."
Your chances are even greater if your relative got the disease when they were under 60.
It's not just male relatives you have to keep in mind though.
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You might also have a higher chance of getting the cancer if your mum or sister developed breast or ovarian cancer, the charity said.
It advised you check in with your GP if you're over 45 and your father or brother has had prostate cancer.
3. Are you Black or mixed race?
Though it's not clear why yet, black men are more likely to get prostate cancer than other men.
"In the UK, about 1 in 4 Black men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime," Prostate Cancer UK said.
You're also at risk if you have mixed Black ethnicity, it added.
It's worth taking Prostate Cancer UK's quiz to determine your own risk of getting the disease – it'll take 30 seconds and will tell you in you need to speak to a GP.
What signs should I never ignore?
According to the NHS, some signs of prostate cancer may include:
- Needing to pee more frequently, often during the night
- Needing to rush to the toilet
- Difficulty in starting to pee
- Straining or taking a long time while peeing
- Weak flow
- Feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully
- Blood in urine or blood in semen
If you have these symptoms, it doesn't mean you have the disease – but you should get them checked out.
The prostate is a walnut sized-gland which sits underneath the bladder and wraps around the urethra – this is the tube that transports pee out of your body. It plays a role in making semen.
Trans people who were assigned male at birth still carry a risk of prostate cancer even if they've had reconstructive surgery, as their prostate won't have been removed, according to Prostrate Cancer UK.
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But studied do suggest they might have a slightly lower risk than cisgender men.
Most cases of prostate cancer in trans women have been in those aged over 50 years, the charity said.
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