- Confusion around prostate cancer symptoms could be leading fewer men to get tested – a fifth (19%) don’t know what a prostate is and 93% can’t identify all the potential symptoms from a list.
- According to the new Bupa Wellbeing Index, two-thirds (66%) of men over 50 who haven’t previously had prostate cancer say they’ve never been checked for the illness.
- Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the UK, with an estimated 52,300 new cases every year.
- To provide patients with fast access to cancer tests and treatment, Bupa UK Insurance and The Cromwell hospital have launched a specialist centre for prostate cancer.
Over-50s in the UK could be missing out on life-saving prostate cancer checks, due to a combination of a lack of awareness over symptoms and embarrassment about being examined by their GP.
That’s according to the new Bupa Wellbeing Index which asked 8,000 UK adults questions about their general health and wellbeing. There is currently no national screening programme in place for prostate cancer in the UK, meaning there is more reliance on people monitoring for potential symptoms than with other forms of cancer such as breast or bowel.
Against this backdrop, two-thirds (66%) of men over 50 who haven’t previously had prostate cancer say they have never been checked for the illness, while just 20% say they have been screened or checked within the past two years.
There are around 52,300 new prostate cancer cases in the UK every year, according to Cancer Research UK – however 78% now survive prostate cancer for 10 or more years.
Fast access to cancer tests and treatment
To provide patients with fast access to cancer tests and treatment, Bupa UK Insurance and The Cromwell hospital in London have launched their first specialist centre for prostate cancer. They offer Bupa health insurance customers an appointment within two working days, and if needed, treatment is available within 31 days – twice the speed of national targets.
However, findings show significant levels of confusion still surround the condition, which has been associated with a rise in late cancer diagnosis. When quizzed about the potential symptoms of prostate cancer, 23% of men over 50 didn't get any potential symptoms correct, while 93% couldn’t identify all the potential symptoms from the list. Meanwhile, around a fifth (19%) don’t know what a prostate is in the first place.
Prominent examples of prostate cancer diagnosis in the news are continuing to raise awareness - specifically, the campaigning work done by Bill Turnbull (22%) who passed away from the disease in 2022, and Stephen Fry (17%) is encouraging thousands more men to get checked.
Some of the most common symptoms of prostate cancer in men and transgender or non-binary people with a prostate gland include: needing to pee more frequently, needing to rush to the toilet, pain when peeing, straining or taking a long time while peeing, weak flow, feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully, blood in urine or blood in semen or unexplained weight loss. Aches or pains in the lower abdomen can be a sign of prostate cancer that has spread. While all of these symptoms can also be benign and related to other conditions, it is important to see a GP for peace of mind if experiencing any of these issues.
Speed of access
Meanwhile, speed of access is another key barrier, with one in six (16%) saying they worry it would take too long to get appointments and tests organised for prostate cancer checks. This aligns more broadly with trends that indicate men are still less likely to see a GP for a check-up , with waiting times the top factor (given by 37%) that ends up discouraging them.
Embarrassment also remains a leading obstacle to diagnosis, with a tenth (10%) of over 50s saying they have avoided appointments due to worries about a digital rectal examination – while 8% say they worry about it being a painful process. But early diagnosis can be important, allowing doctors to carefully monitor the condition, recommend treatment options and reduce the risk of the cancer spreading.
Dr Tim Woodman, Medical Director for Bupa health insurance says: “Having had treatment for prostate cancer myself, I know first-hand how important it is to be aware of the symptoms and seek specialist help fast when something isn’t right. With cancer, speed is of the essence and early diagnosis and treatment saves lives. It’s also really important to know if you’re at higher risk because of your age, ethnicity, or family history.
“There’s been some fantastic awareness campaigning in recent years around prostate cancer. Medical professionals, charities and people like Bill Turnbull and Stephen Fry have helped save lives by encouraging people to put aside any feeling of embarrassment and get checked. Hopefully the conversation will keep moving in the right direction and more people will get to know the signs and risk factors of prostate cancer. If you’re in any doubt, it’s always worth making an appointment with a doctor.”
Professor Hashim Ahmed, Consultant Urological Surgeon, Cromwell Hospital says: “Prostate cancer is the most common types of cancer amongst men in the UK and mainly affects those over the age of 50. Problems with urinating can often be one of the first signs that something is wrong, especially if the cancer is pressing on or growing near the urethra. It’s really important that men speak to their GP as soon as possible, if they notice any changes to their urine – or any other symptoms.”
Notes to editors
Key features Specialist Centres for prostate cancer include:
- One appointment for all initial diagnostics under one roof within two working days of calling Bupa, giving customers peace of mind or fast access to treatment*.
- Treatment begins within 31 days of first calling Bupa, which is twice as fast as national targets.
- Emotional and wellbeing support from counsellors and nurses, and access to Bupa’s Live Well with Cancer and enhanced recovery programmes.
- There are plans to further extend the network this year. Bupa’s network of Specialist Centres includes fast access to diagnostic tests and treatment for breast, bowel and prostate cancer. *Suitable for Bupa customers with cancer cover and a GP referral for symptoms of prostate cancer but haven’t yet had any tests or a diagnosis.
About the Bupa Wellbeing Index: Bupa commissioned Censuswide to poll a nationally representative sample of 8,185 UK adults, of which 1,760 were men aged over 50. The data was collected between 14.12.2022 - 20.12.2022. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct which is based on the ESOMAR principles.
