An experienced UK doctor is calling for greater awareness of prostate cancer symptoms and early warning signs. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men across Europe and the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the UK, yet many still know little about typical symptoms or when to ask for tests. Feelings of embarrassment, fear and a reluctance to talk about urinary problems mean that many men wait too long, and this can delay a diagnosis at a stage when treatment is often most effective.
Martin Thornton, Chief Medical Officer at Bluecrest, has discussed some of the most frequent questions about prostate cancer in the British media, including the Daily Record, to help separate fact from myth and lower the threshold for seeking care. In his view, early detection changes the outlook for many patients. He stresses that prostate cancer symptoms should be taken seriously, but also reminds men that a large number of checks end with reassuring results.
Why awareness of prostate cancer symptoms matters
Prostate cancer usually develops slowly. Many men have no clear prostate cancer symptoms at first, and the disease is often found only after a blood test or imaging carried out for another reason. When symptoms do appear, they tend to involve changes in the way a man urinates, pain in the back or pelvis, or more general signs such as weight loss and tiredness.
Health services such as the NHS and charities including Prostate Cancer UK repeatedly highlight that men are less likely than women to seek help early for possible cancer symptoms. Thornton has pointed out that some men avoid appointments because they “do not want to make a fuss” or feel awkward discussing intimate problems. In my opinion, this silence is one of the main barriers to timely diagnosis. The message from clinicians is that noticing prostate cancer symptoms and talking about them can make a real difference to treatment options and long-term outcomes.
How prostate cancer is investigated
When prostate cancer is suspected, the first step is often a PSA test. This is a simple blood test that measures levels of prostate-specific antigen, a protein produced by the prostate gland.
An elevated PSA level does not automatically mean cancer. Levels can rise because of benign enlargement, infection or other non-cancerous conditions. However, a raised result is one reason to consider further checks.
Depending on the findings, a PSA test may be followed by a prostate examination or modern imaging such as MRI. Current UK guidance and expert opinion increasingly emphasise MRI scans and targeted biopsies to clarify suspicious results, while the role of the traditional digital rectal examination is being re-evaluated. In some cases a biopsy is performed to confirm whether cancer cells are present. According to Thornton, many men find that the initial tests are enough to rule out serious disease and provide reassurance, which can also reduce anxiety in the long term.
Prostate cancer symptoms to take seriously
Prostate cancer does not always show clear early signs, but several symptoms appear repeatedly in medical guidance as reasons to speak with a doctor. Common prostate cancer symptoms include:
- difficulty starting urination or straining to pass urine
- a weak urine stream or “stop-start” flow
- needing to urinate more often than usual, especially at night
- a sudden urge to urinate or feeling that the bladder does not empty fully
- blood in the urine or in semen
- persistent pain in the lower back, hips or pelvis
- unexplained weight loss or general decline in health
These problems do not always mean prostate cancer. They can also be caused by benign prostate enlargement or other conditions of the urinary tract. Even so, the combination of urinary changes, blood in urine or semen and new back pain is regarded as important enough that doctors advise medical assessment rather than watchful waiting at home.
Who is most at risk and when to seek medical advice
The risk of prostate cancer increases with age. Many guidelines highlight men over 50 as a key group, with earlier discussion recommended for some high-risk groups. These include men with a family history of prostate cancer and those from certain ethnic backgrounds, such as Black men, who have a higher lifetime risk according to charity data. For these groups, doctors often suggest talking about PSA testing from about 45 onwards.
In the interviews quoted, Thornton stresses that the biggest mistake men make is to wait and hope that problems will disappear. He argues that ignoring warning signs or postponing a visit because of shame is not a sustainable approach. Early and regular health checks for those at risk are simple measures that can prevent late diagnoses. In my view, learning about prostate cancer symptoms and understanding how tests work can also reduce fear, because men know what to expect if they ever need to be investigated.
The overall message from clinicians and charities is consistent: knowledge and early action are crucial. Taking prostate cancer symptoms seriously and seeking professional assessment when they appear can be the difference between a straightforward treatment path and a much more complex journey with advanced disease.
