Men in dark over prostate cancer threat

Published on Friday 30 May 2008 10:33

MEN in the Capital are unaware of the true threat of prostate cancer, a new survey has found.

More than two-thirds of those questioned in Edinburgh underestimated by half the number diagnosed with the disease each year.

The study carried out by Everyman, the UK's leading male cancer campaign, interviewed more than 1000 men nationwide.

Of those who took part from Edinburgh, 82 per cent of participants thought that about 17,000 men or less were diagnosed each year, while the actual figure is 35,000.

Krista Eleftheriou, spokeswoman for the Everyman Male Cancer Campaign, said: "It's shocking that there is such ignorance about such a prolific disease.

"The number of men who die of prostate cancer every year is almost comparable to the number of women who die from breast cancer, yet it remains a taboo subject that is rarely spoken about."

The survey also revealed a lack of knowledge of the symptoms of prostate cancer across the UK, with only 13 per cent of British men feeling confident to name them.