Are you male and have you flown out of Newcastle Airport lately? Did you pop to the loo before heading along to the departure gate?
Okay, you probably didn’t expect to see those two questions here in Northern Insight magazine, but if you answered yes to both of those questions, you’ll probably be aware of the latest campaign being mounted by Nuffield Health Newcastle Hospital.
You really can’t miss the A4 size advert which is situated right in front of you while you are…erm… peeing. Hopefully you will have read the information because it is really important. It concerns prostate screening.
Let’s start with a few basic facts.
Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men in the UK. Its causes aren’t clear, but if you have a male family member that has been diagnosed with the disease, there is an increased risk of you developing it. And the risk of getting prostate cancer gets higher as you get older. The figures don’t make for pleasant reading. Prostate cancer causes 10,000 men to die every year in the UK and there are over 35,000 cases diagnosed every year. The majority of those cases and deaths involve men who’re aged 50 and over, but it can affect men who are younger. Age is no barrier.
What are the symptoms?
The first sign is generally a bit of a struggle to go for a pee where you need to strain to empty your bladder. Weirdly, another sign is having to go for a pee more frequently and the urge to urinate more at night. You should also watch out for any sign of blood in your urine. Erectile dysfunction could start to affect you and you may even feel pain or a burning sensation while having a pee. It’s also worth keeping an eye on any lower back pain and aching in the hips or pelvis. If you recognise any of these symptoms you need to get them checked by a GP.
As we all know however, COVID has caused major problems for the NHS. There’s a massive backlog of cases and waiting lists are still much longer than everyone would hope for. In other words, it can take time before you are checked and before you receive any possible treatment. COVID-19 has not only caused a massive headache for all healthcare professionals, it has also seen many of us get out of the habit of going for a check-up with our local GP whenever we feel ill or when something doesn’t quite seem right. Time easily slips by.
And if there is one big enemy when dealing with prostate cancer it is time. The sooner you get things checked, the sooner you can have any treatment and the greater your chances of making a complete recovery.
These symptoms don’t automatically mean that you have cancer. In fact, they are also symptoms of Benign Prostate Enlargement which is common in men as they get older. This condition is not cancerous, however still comes with the same symptoms. However without assessment, it is difficult to differentiate between these conditions. The great news is that you can speed-up the entire assessment and diagnostic process by speaking to Nuffield Health. Their modern hospital is based on Clayton Road in Newcastle and they have a magnificent reputation when it comes to diagnosing and treating a whole range of health problems.
And the main focus of their latest campaign and investment is prostate screening and treatment. Talking of investment, the Nuffield Hospital in Newcastle is spending over £150,000 on buying and installing a laser machine which will help with less invasive prostate treatment. It reduces the need to have invasive surgery by delivering a surge of energy onto an enlarged prostate to shrink or remove excess tissue which is causing a restriction to the flow of urine. The lasers use concentrated light which produces an accurate and totally painless beam of heat.
The Nuffield Hospital in Newcastle had to previously hire a laser, which wasn’t ideal, but now the arrival of their own 21st Century piece of equipment means they can treat more men more quickly, which is fantastic news.
If you have any of the symptoms mentioned above, you need to take action…and do it sooner rather than later. The Nuffield Hospital is a safe, COVID secure environment so you can visit in confidence. Remember, time is critical when it comes to all cancers. Don’t grin and bear it if you suspect there’s a problem. Act now; act quickly…it could be a life saver. Your life.
Nuffield Health; award-winning healthcare.