Men Encouraged to Talk About Their Prostate Health

Online, March 8, 2010 (Newswire.com) - A recent research from the Prostate Cancer Charity revealed that 35,000 men are diagnosed in the UK every year with prostate cancer. Unfortunately, the report claimed that one in three men are unwilling to discuss about their prostate health concerns with their spouse.

The head of policy and campaigns at the Prostate Cancer Charity, Dr Sarah Cant, said: "Actually a lot of prostate cancers are very treatable and in some cases, don't need any treatment." As a man with early-stage prostate cancer, he will be able to choose which kind of treatment is right for him.

Early-stage prostate cancer means that cancer cells are found only in his prostate gland. Compared with many other cancers, prostate cancer tends to grow more slowly. This means that it might take 10 to 30 years before a tumor gets big enough to be found.

Active treatment usually begins a few weeks to months after diagnosis. During this time, the patient should meet with various doctors to learn about his treatment choices. He is advisable to invite his spouse to participate in the decision making process as a diagnosis of cancer and the treatment choice he make affect both of them.

The prostate cancer might change a man's life and the live of those people who close to him. The common concerns including treatments and managing side effects, hospital stays, and medical bills. He may also worry about caring for his family, keeping his job and having normal daily activities.

It is typical for a man with prostate cancer often conflicting emotions that can strain a relationship with their family members, especially their spouse. Therefore, the cancer charity has encouraged men to be more open about their illness to allow their family members help them coping with the feeling that a diagnosis of cancer can bring and find a right cancer treatment.