Public health messaging around prostate cancer may be hampering efforts of early detection by placing a misleading focus on urinary symptoms, scientists have argued. Cambridge University researchers say there is “no evidence of a causal link between prostate cancer and either prostate size or troublesome male urinary symptoms”.
However, much public health guidance promotes this link - with an increased need to urinate high on the list of symptoms for prostate cancer given on the NHS website. In a review published in the journal BMC Medicine, the Cambridge researchers argue the “strong public perception” that male urinary symptoms are a key indicator of prostate cancer “may be seriously hampering efforts to encourage early presentation”.
“If rates of earlier diagnosis are to improve, we call for strong, clear messaging that prostate cancer is a silent disease especially in the curable stages and men should come forward for testing regardless of whether or not they have symptoms,” the paper says. “This should be done in parallel with other ongoing efforts to raise awareness, including targeting men at highest risk due to racial ancestry or family history.”
