Prostate cancer is one of the top 10 cancer killers in Hong Kong, and the number of new cases has increased in recent years. The latest figures show that the number of new cases is 55% higher than 10 years ago, with an average of 1 in 27 men affected. It is definitely the cancer that men should be highly vigilant about! The following are 6 common symptoms that you should be aware of and check for if you notice any early signs, otherwise it will be difficult to treat the cancer when it is in the middle or late stages:

Top 6 symptoms of prostate cancer

Early-stage prostate cancer is usually asymptomatic. When your tumour grows or spreads, there is a chance that one or more of the following symptoms will appear:

Frequent urinatio

Frequent nighttime urination

Difficulty starting to urinate

Sudden urge to urinate

Weak urine flow during urination

Pain or stiffness in the lower back, pelvis or femur

Many people think prostate cancer is not a symptom until they have blood in their urine or cannot urinate. The cancer has reached an advanced stage in severe cases such as haematuria.

Causes of prostate cancer

The causes of prostate cancer have not yet been established and information from the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society and Cancer Prevention Foundation (防癌基金會) (Note: there is no such an organization in Hong Kong) suggests that the following factors increase the risk of the disease:

1. Men over 50 years of age

2. High-fat diet

3. Chronic physical inactivity

4. If you have a family member who has had prostate cancer, especially a close relative, you are twice as likely to develop the disease.

Men should have regular check-ups from the age of 50

Prostate cancer is a malignant tumour of the prostate gland that can invade the adjacent organs of the prostate gland and may metastasise to other parts of the body, such as the bones and lymph glands, leading to complications and even death. It is therefore important for people at risk to receive regular medical check-up packages for men from re:HEALTH for early diagnosis and treatment. The package includes:

Tumor Marker COMBO Screening Package (Male) (PCA, Stomach Cancer Marker, Pancreatic Cancer Marker)

Prostate Health Check Plan (Prostate Sonography, PCA )

Male Priority Health Check Plan (CEA, Prostate Sonography)

Patients who are able to detect the signs of cancer early also have a high rate of recovery. According to some studies, the survival rate of prostate cancer can be 97% or more if treated promptly at stages 1 to 3, but it has dropped to 45% at stage 4. This is why prostate cancer is the 4th deadliest cancer in Hong Kong for men, so we should not take it lightly.