March is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

Prostate cancer is becoming more and more common. In the UK alone, 52,300 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year – making it the most common cancer among men. The spike in diagnoses over the past ten years, as so often occurs, is likely down to more testing, more reporting and better data – as well as an ageing population that is living longer than ever before.

This uplift in figures sounds concerning, but we have a great deal to be thankful for. Thanks to the amazing work carried out by Cancer Research UK, prostate cancer survival has tripled in the past four years, meaning that an astonishing 78% of those with prostate cancer can expect to survive for another ten years or more.

What does survival look like? According to Cancer Research:

Stats*

• Stage 1 means the cancer is in only half of one side of the prostate, or less. It is completely contained within the prostate gland. Almost everyone (almost 100%) will survive their cancer for 5 years or more after they are diagnosed.
• Stage 2 means the cancer is in more than half of one side of the prostate. But it is still completely contained within the prostate gland. Almost everyone (almost 100%) will survive their cancer for 5 years or more after they are diagnosed.
• Stage 3 means the cancer has broken through the covering (capsule) of the prostate gland. It may have spread into tubes that carry semen (seminal vesicles). Around 95 out of every 100 men (around 95%) will survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis.
• Stage 4 can mean different things, including: the cancer has spread into nearby body organs, such as the back passage or bladder, has spread to nearby lymph nodes, has spread to other parts of the body outside the pelvis, such as the lungs or liver. Around 50 out of every 100 men (around 50%) will survive their cancer for 5 years or more after they are diagnosed.

Fundraising is a powerful tool that can help research scientists in the fight against prostate cancer as they do their important work. If you feel called to join in, March the Month is a virtual step challenge for anyone who wants to keep active and help beat prostate cancer. Whether you’re walking or wheeling, take on 11,000 steps a day throughout March and donate your proceeds to Cancer Research to honour the 11,000 dads, partners, brothers, grandads and mates who die from prostate cancer each year and help support more men survive prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer could also be an issue that touches your clients’ lives. Watch Dave’s story and find out everything you need to know to support your clients through critical illness here.

?*https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/ovarian-cancer/survival

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