Lothian men urged to get checked for prostate cancer

Published on Friday 4 April 2008 10:23

MEN are being urged to get themselves checked out for prostate cancer a disease affecting 35,000 in the UK each year.

The city council, West Lothian Council's community health and care partnership, and NHS Lothian have been distributing information posters and leaflets in GP surgeries, hospitals, supermarkets, libraries and community centres. An awareness week was also held in March to try to improve people's understanding of the disease.

Charlie Hogg, from the Lothian Patient Support Group, said: "The awareness week endeavoured to highlight the message about the disease and raise awareness among as many people as possible so that we can all help our grandfathers, fathers, uncles, brothers, sons, husbands and partners to know more about it."

Gill Davies, specialist nurse practitioner for urology at NHS Lothian, added: "It is recognised that prostate cancer is curable. What is important for men and their families is that diagnosis and treatment are established early to ensure the likelihood of a longer and more fulfilling life.

"Men are two and a half times more likely to get prostate cancer if a grandfather, father or brother has been diagnosed."