September marks Urology Awareness Month. Urological cancers affect the organs in the urinary system and include:-
- Bladder cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Urinary tract cancer
- Penile cancer
Here at Tozers we have been joining with Organisations such as Macmillan, Cancer Research UK, The Urology Foundation, Orchid and many others to raise awareness of the early signs and symptoms of such cancers and to encourage open conversations about these often-taboo subjects.
While cancers of the bladder and kidney affect both men and women, the majority of cases of urological cancer, including prostate, penile and testicular cancer are specific to men.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common cause of male cancer in the world, with 1 in 8 men being diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime.
Originating amongst prostate gland cells, prostate cancer arises when abnormal cells divide and grow uncontrollably. This results in changes to the surrounding area which can cause many urinary symptoms, often including urgency, frequency, hesitancy or blood in the urine.
These symptoms often overlap with other conditions, which means that prostate cancer is often misdiagnosed or missed. If left to develop and spread, prostate cancer presents a far greater threat and produces symptoms of pain, weight loss and a loss of appetite.
- Only 28% of men with stage 4 prostate cancer survive for 5 years or more after their diagnosis.
- Looking at global trends of the disease, forecasts indicate that deaths from prostate cancer will increase by 93% within 26 years.
- But almost 100% of men who are diagnosed early with stage 1 or 2 prostate cancer will survive for 5 years or more.
Penile Cancer
Penile cancer is when abnormal cells in the penis start to divide and grow in an uncontrolled way, most commonly this manifests in symptoms of:
- Growths or sores on the penis
- Bleeding
- A rash on the penis
- Difficulty pulling back foreskin
- A change in colour of the penis or foreskin
Penile cancer is rare, mostly occurring in men older than 50 with only 3% of cases occurring in men under 40.
In terms of risk factors, cancer of the penis is more common in men who are uncircumcised, those who have human papilloma virus or men who are smokers.
Penile cancer is most often treated via surgery which ranges from circumcision to removal of lymph nodes or the penis entirely. Appropriate treatment will depend on the grade of the cancer and how it has spread.
- Penile cancer incidence rates have increased by nearly 2/5ths since the early 1990s.
- Incidence rates are highest in males aged 90+
Testicular Cancer
Testicular cancer can develop in different cells in the testicles, most often it originates from germ cells which are responsible for producing sperm.
- Over 2000 new testicular cancer diagnoses are being made each year.
- Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in males aged between 16 and 24
It’s important to look out for lumps or one testicle getting bigger. Another symptom is a feeling of pain or heaviness in the scrotum.
This cancer is most common in younger men, particularly those in their early 30s, with the likelihood of developing testicular cancer reducing as men get older.
While the majority of testicular lumps are not cancerous, it’s important to contact your doctor in order to be checked. Often doctors will shine a bright light through the scrotum, a test called transillumination. Light will not shine through a solid cancerous lump whereas light can be seen through harmless fluid-filled cysts.
Ultimately, men with testicular cancer are often successfully treated with surgery to remove the affected testicle, so long as it has been caught early and hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body the outlook is generally good.
Early diagnosis and treatment
Compared to other cancers these male-specific types are often treatable, if caught early before they’re given the chance to spread, recovery and survival rates are high.
It is incredibly important for any signs of male-specific, urological or any other cancer to be picked up on and remedied with treatment at the earliest possible stage.
Therefore, it is vital that taboos around this subject are broken down in order that open discussions with the GP take place as soon as possible.
How we can help
Sadly, even with prompt action, GPs or hospitals may on occasion misdiagnose your condition or delay a necessary investigation which might otherwise have led to an earlier diagnosis and therefore, more timely treatment.
If this has happened to you or one of your family and friends Tozers’ medical negligence team are available to discuss whether a legal claim can be pursued.
Our team of specialist solicitors can guide you through whether you may have a claim, the steps to getting answers about your treatment and ultimately obtaining the compensation you may be entitled to.
