Prostate Health Checks

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Prostate cancer is one of the commonest cancers affecting males in the UK, but most men with early prostate cancer don’t have symptoms. Prostate cancer is very treatable if caught early and any treatment needed is likely to be simpler and more successful. The risk of this increases for those with a family history of prostate cancer, but also increases due to age, particularly affecting white males over 50 and black males over 45. 

Jurassic Coast PCN have teamed up with Wessex Cancer Alliance to launch a free NHS initiative to provide targeted prostate health checks to eligible patients. We will be inviting targeted groups of patients for a prostate assessment at your local GP surgery, who:

• Are aged between 45-80
• Are black African, black Caribbean or black British
• Do not have a current prostate cancer diagnosis
• Have not had a recent PSA blood test
• And, are not undergoing active cancer treatment

This short film explains why it is important to discuss your risk with your GP

For more information visit Prostate Cancer UK.

Risk Checker

1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer. Check your risk in 30 seconds by answering three quick questions. 

What will happen during the prostate health check?

The assessment will include taking a detailed history of symptoms and a physical examination that will usually include a rectal (back passage) examination of the prostate gland. In addition a blood test for prostate cancer (PSA) will be arranged. . Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein made by the prostate gland and deteatable in the blood. High PSA levels may be a sign of prostate cancer, a noncancerous condition such as prostatitis, or an enlarged prostate gland. It is best to identify any of these conditions at an early stage when they are most treatable.

If this assessment suggests that prostate cancer is a possibility, then an urgent (2 week) referral will be made for further hospital tests.