Health Alerts & Wellbeing
Are you at risk of Prostate Cancer?
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer found in men in the UK – around 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their lifetime.
Who is at risk of prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer can affect men of any age. However, there are certain groups that are at an increased risk of developing prostate cancer:
- Men aged 50 or older
- Men of African-Caribbean or African descent
- Men who have a family history of prostate cancer
- Men who are obese
There is also an increased risk for men who have a direct family history of breast cancer through their mother or sister.
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer usually develops slowly, and often do not appear until the prostate is large enough to affect the urethra. The most common symptoms of prostate include, but aren’t limited to:
- Needing to pee more frequently, especially during the night
- Needing to rush to toilet
- Difficulty in starting or stopping urination
- Straining or taking a long time while peeing
- Weak flow
- Feeling your bladder has not emptied fully
- Blood in urine or blood in semen.
Some of the above symptoms, such as needing to pee more frequently, may be thought to be a normal aspect of growing older. It is vital that people do not ignore these symptoms.
What should you do if you’re concerned that you or someone you know has prostate cancer?
If anyone you speak to is describing these symptoms, or knows someone who is experiencing them, they should contact their GP as soon as possible.
You can also call Prostate Cancer UK Specialist Nurses – 0800 074 83830 -for free and confidential information and support.
Most people experiencing the symptoms listed above won’t have prostate cancer. However, by contacting their GP or Prostate Cancer UK Specialist Nurses, they can be provided with either peace of mind, or faster diagnosis which means quicker treatment and better outcomes for them.
Download an easy read booklet on Prostate Cancer
Taking the fear out of breast screening
Do the test for it – go for it is the message behind a new short video, which aims to take the fear out of breast screening for women with learning disabilities.
Made by, and for, women with learning disabilities the film encourages women not to be scared of screening and to have the test if they want to.
It features a variety of women with learning disability including someone who had never had a mammogram, someone who has to come back for a recall and someone who has had breast cancer diagnosed by screening.
The project to make the film was led by Ingrid Fuchs, a lead clinical nurse specialist at Avon Breast Screening together with biggerhouse film on behalf of Public Health England (PHE).
PHE has also developed easy read guidance accompanied by images explaining what happens when a woman comes for a mammogram.
Helpful tool for assessing the eyesight of people with a learning disability
Many people with learning disabilities may not be able to tell others if they have concerns about their vision.
Seeability has developed a useful resource to help carers and anyone who supports someone with a learning disability observe how effectively they’re able to see.
The Functional Vision Assessment (FVA) is easy to use and is suitable for use by carers, supporters and learning disability professionals.
The FVA helps you gather useful information about how much the person is able to see and how they use their sight – which can then be shared at eye tests and hospital eye clinic appointments.
Download a pdf of the Functional Vision Assessment.
It’s time to talk about poo
It’s estimated that half of people with a learning disability experience long-term constipation.
Causes include poor diet, dehydration, stress, lack of exercise, some medications, lack of monitoring bowel health and some physical conditions.
Many of these are commonly experienced by people with learning disabilities and, if left uncured, can cause discomfort, pain and sometimes death.
Constipation can be dangerous if not managed effectively but everyone is comfortable talking about their bowel movements.
Watch Poo & You – an animated guide to constipation by Dimensions.
Smear tests aren’t easy for everybody, but there are ways to make them better. They prevent 75% of cervical cancers, so while they may not be pleasant, they are important.
Download an easy-read guide from the Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, which explains what happens during a smear test.
Be clear on cancer – Easy Read Leaflet
If you notice blood in your pee, even if it’s ‘just the once’, tell your doctor. It might not be anything serious, but there is a chance that it could be a sign of bladder or kidney cancer.
Finding cancer early makes it more treatable.
You can download an easy read leaflet, which tells you about bladder or kidney cancer.
You can also find further information at www.nhs.uk/bloodinpee
