Get the biggest stories sent straight to your inbox Sign up for regular updates and breaking news from WalesOnline Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

TODAY heralds the start of Blue September, the cancer awareness campaign dedicated to raising national awareness about all the cancers that affect men.

However, Blue September isn’t just about raising awareness of male specific cancers that affect the prostate and testicles, but also bowel, lung, kidney and other cancers that affect the health and well-being of men across Wales.

Gareth Brown, a consultant urologist at Vale Healthcare, specialises in the treatment of all urological conditions, from urinary incontinence to kidney stones. He says:

Blue September is a key focal point as a urologist. While it doesn’t specifically focus on urological cancers, it is during this period that we hope to see a major surge in male patients actually coming to us to talk about their symptoms.

So many men simply bury their head in the sand when it comes to talking about what they consider to be embarrassing conditions, so any campaign that can bring people’s attention to cancer of the prostate, testicles or penis can only be a good thing.

Prostate Cancer

Up to 35,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed each year in UK with the majority of men over the age of 70 years.

The prostate reaches its mature size of approximately 20g at the end of the puberty. It is similar in size to a walnut and it is the first structure the urethra (water pipe) passes when it leaves the bladder.

Any further growth in prostate size after puberty is either due to benign enlargement or prostate cancer.

The prostate’s main role is fertility. It produces alkaline secretions to enable the sperm to survive.

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is one of the main constituents of the prostatic secretions and is responsible for keeping the semen in a liquid form. Higher blood levels of PSA can often be associated with prostate cancer.

The PSA blood test has revolutionised the diagnosis and management of prostate cancer and is the first step in identifying the condition, along with a rectal examination to determine whether the prostate feels malignant.

Symptoms include frequent urination, increased urination at night, difficulty starting and maintaining a steady stream of urine, blood in the urine and dysuria (painful urination). About a third of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer have one or more such symptoms, while two thirds have no symptoms

Confusingly the early symptoms of prostate cancer may be indistinguishable from those of benign prostatic enlargement. After a diagnosis is made then further imaging such as an MRI and bone scan can help determine the extent of the cancer.

Treatments for prostate cancer vary according to the grade and extent of the cancer. Early low risk cancers may not require treatment but can be kept under surveillance or active monitoring. Curative treatments include surgery to remove the entire prostate gland.

Other potentially curative options include radiotherapy, either external beam or ultrasound guided brachytherapy with the implantation of radioactive seeds into the prostate.

It is important to remember that more men die with prostate cancer than from it. It is largely a slow growing cancer so many men are often unaware that they even have it. However, it can be treated very effectively so it is vital to be aware of the symptoms and approach your GP if you have any concerns.

Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer is one of the most common cancers in men aged 20 to 45, with 2,000 new cases reported each year.

The good news is that treatment is very effective and most men will be cured. However it is vital that men should perform self examinations of their testicles, at least once a month, to check for any unusual lumps or swellings.

Any new lumps or swellings should be examined by a doctor, fortunately the majority of lumps in the scrotum are benign but if any show cause for concern you will be referred to a urologist.

The urologist will perform a physical examination and sometimes arrange an ultrasound scan which will determine whether the lump is likely to be a cancer. If cancer is suspected then blood tests are performed to detect if certain blood chemicals (tumour markers) are raised. If the results show that cancer is highly likely then an operation called an orchidectomy is performed under a general anaesthetic to remove the testicle.

In men with early testicular cancer surgery may be all that is required, although |additional (adjuvant) chemotherapy or radiotherapy may be given to reduce the risk of the cancer recurring.

Penile Cancer

Fortunately cancer of the penis is rare. However, despite it being relatively rare, approximately 500 men a year are newly diagnosed in UK and 100 men a year will die from it.

Possible signs and symptoms of penile cancer include red, white, or scaly patches or a rash, a persistent change in colour and sores, growths, ulcers, warts or blisters that do not heal.

Diagnosis is obtained by a biopsy performed by a specialist urologist. Further tests involve ultrasound, CT and MRI scans.

Early detection is important as penile cancer can be curable. The mainstay of treatment for penile cancer is surgery to remove the cancer.

Vale Healthcare’s Urology Service is available at The Vale Hospital in Hensol and the Cardiff Bay Clinic.

This provides a rapid access service to all men and women experiencing a wide range of urological symptoms. For more visit www.vale-healthcare.com

For more information about Blue September visit blueseptember.org.uk.