Every year over 45,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK and around 10,000 men will die from the disease, it is the most common solid organ cancer in the male population and around 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime.

For the first time more patients are now dying from prostate cancer than breast cancer, but like many other cancers, if picked up early it is very treatable and the prognosis for the disease that hasn’t spread out of the prostate remains very good.

Ben Eddy, leading Consultant Urologist at The One Ashford Hospital states:   

‘The prostate is a small organ around the size of a walnut situated deep in the pelvis below the urinary bladder, it naturally increases in size with age. It is an organ of fertility producing the majority of the ejaculate, it also plays a role protecting men’s continence. Men with prostate cancer can present with difficulty in voiding, frequency of urination, slow urinary flow or getting up at night to void or potentially blood in the urine although these symptoms are also very common with benign, non cancerous growth of the prostate or other bladder conditions. The majority of men that are diagnosed have no symptoms at all. Men are first screened to see if they could be at risk of prostate cancer with a simple rectal examination to feel the prostate and a blood test called PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen). These tests can be performed simply by their GP. Any man can ask to be tested but we would particular want to target men at increased risk of the disease, these include men with a positive family history of the disease, Afro-Caribbean men, obesity and symptomatic men.

‘If the PSA or rectal examination are abnormal then we would investigate men with a MRI scan and prostate biopsies, the biopsies are key to telling us how aggressive the disease is. At One Ashford we can now offer a rapid access MRI service where patients can have a diagnostic MRI and see a Urologist within a week. We can also offer advanced diagnostic techniques such as template and fusion biopsies to more accurately map the prostate cancer, increasing the diagnostic accuracy. If surgery is indicated our Urologists are some of the most experienced in the country.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, do not hesitate in visiting your GP and request a referral to see one of our Consultant Urologists.  To book a consultation, call us direct on 01233 423000, or email ashford.info@onehealthcare.co.uk

Why choose One Ashford Hospital?

• Recognised by all major private medical insurers

• Competitive fixed-price packages available with 0% interest

• Rapid access to treatment