Regional men to be aware of cancer risk

Regional men to be aware of cancer risk

It’s vital men visit their local medical service when they experience unusual symptoms.

This article was published in the Avon Valley and Wheatbelt Advocate on 18 September 2019.

THE Cancer Council WA is using Prostate Cancer Awareness in September to issue a timely reminder to blokes in regional WA to familiarise themselves with the common symptoms of the disease.

Cancer Council WA Wheatbelt regional education officer Melissa Pickering said prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Western Australian men.

“It’s vital men visit their local medical service when they experience unusual symptoms as there is no test with sufficient accuracy to screen the male population for prostate cancer,” she said.

“Common symptoms of prostate cancer include waking frequently at night to pee, a sudden or urgent need to pee, difficulty controlling the bladder or the bladder not feeling empty after peeing.

“If you have had any of these symptoms for more than four weeks, or you’ve noticed blood in your pee tell your doctor, clinic nurse or Aboriginal health worker as soon as possible.

“It doesn’t mean you’ve got prostate cancer – often it turns out to be something far less serious.”

In 2017 there were 2093 new cases of prostate cancer recorded compared to 270 deaths, with thousands of men successfully treated.