A SOUTH Cumbria health campaigner has said prostate cancer continues to be a ‘silent killer,’ despite more men being tested.

Public Health England data this month showed that prostate cancer is now the most commonly-diagnosed form of cancer in the UK.

There were 49,029 diagnoses of prostate cancer in 2018 - almost 8,000 up on the previous year.

But, despite the growing number of diagnoses being made, Ralph Wilson from Furness Prostate Cancer Support Group believes that a high number of men in the Furness area are still not getting tested regularly because of misconceptions surrounding the disease.

“There’s a natural reluctance among men to go and see the doctor about anything at all,” he said.

“They laugh about the rectum tests, as I suppose you might expect them to. But beyond that, there is a real problem with the number of men who still don’t know what a prostate is or how common it is to get prostate cancer.”

According to Prostate Cancer UK, around one in eight men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. Its research indicates the risks can be significantly higher if there is a family history of the disease.

The disease mainly affects men over 50. A common symptom is frequently getting up at night to urinate.

“The message we put out is simply this: have a quick, straightforward blood test. And, if your doctor won’t allow you to have one for whatever reason, then change doctor,” Mr Wilson said.

“Detection is the big thing. Acceleration rates are very difficult to predict with prostate cancer, so getting tested regularly is absolutely key.

“I get tested every six months now, just to be certain.”

Mr Wilson was diagnosed with prostate cancer five years ago. The tests he underwent also picked up on a benign colon tumour, which was removed safely.

Around the time he was diagnosed, he was told about the Furness Prostate Cancer Support Group. He has since become heavily involved with the organisation, which meets every month.

His experiences have led him to urge more men in the Furness area to get regular checks.

He said: “It’s a big shock when you’re first told you have prostate cancer. People are often stunned and can be knocked back in a major way by the news.

“I understand how it can be, having gone through it myself and seeing people week after week with the condition.

“But really, the way a lot of men still think about the condition has to change. They need to feel more pressure to go and get checked.”

The Furness Prostate Cancer Support Group meets on the second Monday of every month between 1pm and 3pm at the Hawcoat Sports and Social Club.