Prostate Health
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is usually found via screening or blood tests rather than symptoms. Common urinary issues often stem from benign conditions, but a prostate blood test may be recommended to rule out cancer.
Key Takeaways
- Prostate cancer is usually found via screening or blood tests rather than symptoms. Common urinary issues often stem from benign conditions, but a prostate blood test may be recommended to rule out cancer.
- We offer specialist diagnostics and treatments. Book a consultation to discuss your options.
Clinical Overview
Understanding Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis among men in the UK. The prostate is a small gland, usually the size of a walnut, located just below your bladder. Its main job is to produce the fluid that carries sperm.
Most cases are 'adenocarcinomas', meaning they start in the gland cells. Many of these cancers are slow-growing and stay contained within the prostate (localised). However, some types can be more aggressive and may spread to the bones or other organs (metastatic) if not caught early.
UK diagnostic standards have moved towards using high-quality mpMRI scans before a biopsy. This "MRI-first" approach helps your doctor see exactly what is happening inside the gland, often avoiding unnecessary procedures for slow-growing, harmless tumours.
What to Look For
Symptoms, Causes & Risk Factors
01
Common Symptoms
Prostate cancer is usually not diagnosed due to typical symptoms but by targeted screening or incidental blood testing. The following common symptoms are more likely related to a benign prostate condition but simple prostate cancer blood testing may be indicated to exclude cancer.
Needing to pee more often, especially at night (nocturia).
Difficulty starting to pee or a weak/stop-start flow.
A feeling that your bladder hasn't fully emptied.
New problems getting or keeping an erection.
Blood in your semen.
Rarely more advanced prostate cancer presents with the following symptoms:
Blood in your urine (haematuria).
Persistent pain in your lower back, hips, or pelvis.
Feeling unusually tired or losing weight without trying.
02
When to Seek Help
Visible blood in your pee: This should always be investigated by a doctor.
Acute urinary retention: Suddenly being unable to pee at all (this is a medical emergency).
Persistent bone pain: Particularly in the back or hips that doesn't go away with rest.
Weakness in your legs: Especially if accompanied by back pain or loss of bladder/bowel control.
03
Potential Causes
Genetic changes: Random mistakes in a cell's DNA as we age.
Inherited genes: Around 5–10% of cases are linked to genes passed down through families, such as the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes.
Hormones: Testosterone can sometimes fuel the growth of prostate cancer cells.
Inflammation: Long-term inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis) may play a role.
04
Risk Factors
Age: It mainly affects men over 50, and the risk increases as you get older.
Ethnicity: Black men have a higher risk—1 in 4 Black men in the UK will be diagnosed in their lifetime, compared to 1 in 8 White men.
Family History: Your risk is higher if your father or brother had the disease, especially at a young age.
Weight: Being overweight or living with obesity is linked to a higher risk of aggressive prostate cancer.
Diet: Diets high in processed meats and dairy may slightly increase the risk.
Importance of Diagnosis
Why Early Diagnosis Matters
Catching prostate cancer early is the best way to ensure successful treatment. When the cancer is localised (contained within the prostate), the five-year survival rate in the UK is nearly 100%.
Diagnosis has become much more precise. Doctors now use a combination of PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) blood tests and MRI scans to tell the difference between "low-risk" tumours that can be safely monitored and "aggressive" tumours that need immediate treatment like surgery or radiotherapy.
Importance of Diagnosis
Diagnostic Options & Investigations
To accurately identify the cause of your symptoms, our specialists use a range of targeted investigations. Explore the diagnostic tests below to understand how we confirm a diagnosis and plan your recovery.
Living With Condition
Living With Prostate cancer
- Lifestyle Management
- Surgical Intervention
- Radiation Therapy
- Active Surveillance
Managing prostate cancer is often about maintaining your quality of life.
Active Surveillance: For many low-risk patients, the "treatment" is simply keeping a close eye on the cancer with regular scans and PSA tests to avoid the side effects of surgery.
Modern Recovery: If you do need surgery (prostatectomy), robotic-assisted techniques help you recover faster. Specialist pelvic floor physiotherapy is now standard to help with bladder control.
Lifestyle: Regular exercise and a heart-healthy diet (like the Mediterranean diet) are encouraged, as they can improve your energy levels and may even help slow the cancer's progress.
Managing prostate cancer is often about maintaining your quality of life. The following are sources of evidence-based support for our patients. Once a diagnosis is made we usually guide you to the support you need. We work closely with our local cancer partners to provide you the best care.
Explore evidence-based support from our partners:
Living with Prostate Cancer– Comprehensive guides and support from Prostate Cancer UK.
Living Well with Cancer– Holistic wellbeing and lifestyle tools from Penny Brohn UK.
Maggie’s Prostate Cancer Support– Practical and emotional support for you and your family.
Short-Term Complications
03- Urinary blockage: The tumour pressing on the tube you pee through.
- UTIs: Infections caused by the bladder not emptying properly.
- Blood clots: Bleeding in the urinary tract that can make peeing difficult.
Long-Term Complications
05- Bone spread: Cancer moving to the bones, which can cause pain or fractures.
- Incontinence: Difficulty controlling your bladder after surgery or radiotherapy.
- Erectile dysfunction: Changes to your sex life due to nerve damage or hormone therapy.
- Lymphedema: Swelling in the legs or groin area.
- Hormone therapy side effects: Such as hot flushes, mood changes, or bone thinning.
Treatment Options
Treatment Options & Care Pathways
Explore the specialist interventions available for Prostate cancer. We offer a range of evidence-based treatments designed to address your specific symptoms, focusing on long-term recovery and your personal health goals.
Specialists
Our specialists for Prostate cancer
Leading experts for this condition. View profiles to see clinical backgrounds and current availability.
Mr. Nimish ShahConsultant Urological Surgeon
Professor Christof KastnerAssociate Professor & Consultant Urologist
Professor John KellyConsultant Urological Surgeon
Mr. Kasra Saeb-ParsyConsultant Urological Surgeon
Mr. David ThurtleConsultant Urological Surgeon
Dr. Richard BensonConsultant Clinical Oncologist
Dr. Henno W. MartinConsultant Clinical Oncologist
Dr. Alexander MartinConsultant Clinical Oncologist
Dr. Simon RussellConsultant OncologistOur Commitment
Care you can trust
Every step of your care is delivered to the same standard: senior consultants, a personalised plan, and the safety of an accredited private hospital behind you.
Consultant-Led Excellence
Receive evidence-based care delivered by senior NHS consultants in a professional, specialist setting.
Personalised Care Plans
Your consultant will design a bespoke plan tailored to your condition, health goals and lifestyle.
Hospital-Grade Safety
We operate within leading private hospitals, adhering to strict CQC safety and technology standards.
A Heritage of Trust
Our partners bring decades of NHS and private experience, successfully managing thousands of patient cases.
Patient Guidance
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about specialist referrals and consultations.
3 questions
An elevated Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) level indicates inflammation or abnormality in the prostate, but it is not a definitive diagnosis of cancer. High levels can be caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), urinary tract infections, or recent physical activity. If your PSA is high, we typically recommend a multi-parametric MRI (mpMRI) to look for suspicious areas before considering a biopsy.
Reviewed 2 Mar 2026
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Not necessarily. Many low-grade, localized prostate cancers are slow-growing and may never cause harm during a patient's lifetime. In these cases, we often recommend 'Active Surveillance,' which involves regular PSA testing, MRIs, and occasional biopsies to monitor the cancer closely while avoiding the side effects of immediate surgery or radiation.
Reviewed 2 Mar 2026
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Most patients stay in the hospital for 24 hours and are walking the day after surgery. You will typically require a urinary catheter for 7 to 10 days while the internal connection heals. While light activities can be resumed within 2 weeks, we advise avoiding heavy lifting for 6 weeks. Full recovery of urinary control and sexual function can take several months and often involves pelvic floor physiotherapy.
Reviewed 2 Mar 2026
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