Today

Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer in the UK and kills 10,000 men every year - more than one man every hour.

Despite these statistics, there is still a serious lack of awareness of the disease and thousands of men still do not know they have a prostate gland, what it does or how it can go wrong.

On the eve of Prostate Cancer Awareness Week, John Neate, chief executive of The Prostate Cancer Charity, tells 999Today a little more.

Q: What is Prostate Cancer Awareness Week?
"Prostate Cancer Awareness Week is an annual health awareness campaign organised by The Prostate Cancer Charity. In 2008 it will run from 10-16 March."

Q: Why raise awareness about prostate cancer?
"Every year 35,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK. Although men can't self examine their prostate and as yet there is no reliable test for prostate cancer, it is important to learn about the prostate gland and to store away the information until you need it. Right now there are important things you can do about your diet which may influence the likelihood of getting prostate cancer in the future."

"Finding out about prostate cancer early could improve a man's chances of finding a successful treatment," he added.

Q: Who needs to know about prostate cancer?
"Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men - finding out about it could save your life.

"The risk of getting prostate cancer gets higher as you get older. Most men are diagnosed over the age of 50, but it can affect men from the age of about 40. You are two and a half times more likely to get prostate cancer if your father, brother or son has been diagnosed. The risk is also higher if you are of African Caribbean background.

"Importantly, prostate cancer does not just affect men - it also impacts on their friends and family."

Q: How can people get involved?
"We have posters and information leaflets to help support local activities, all of which contain vital information about prostate cancer. We would urge people to get involved to help us mobilise the male population.

"There are many different things people can do. For example at work, you can display posters around the office/in the canteen/in the loo. Why not set up an information display at reception area? Or take some information along to your local GP surgery.

"Ask your local shops, leisure centre, library or local football club to display a poster and give an information leaflet to customers during Prostate Cancer Awareness Week."

Prostate Cancer Awareness Week runs from March 10-16, 2008.
If you would like more information, visit: www.realmendo.org.uk or call 020 8222 7128.

The facts:

What is the prostate gland?
Only men have a prostate gland. The gland is usually the shape and size of a walnut. It lies underneath the bladder and surrounds the tube that urine and semen pass through.

What does it do?
The gland's main jobs are to support the neck of the bladder and to make some of the fluid of semen.

Signs and symptoms
The prostate enlarges as men get older, and most men have some symptoms affecting urination which are not symptoms of cancer. Symptoms can include:
- Needing to urinate more often, especially at night
- Needing to rush to the toilet
- Difficulty starting to pass urine
- Straining or taking a long time to finish
- A weak flow
- A feeling that your bladder has not emptied properly
- Dribbling
- Pain when passing urine

Other symptoms can be:
- New pain in the lower back, hips or pelvis
- Problems getting or keeping an erection
- Blood in the urine or semen - this is very rare

If you have any queries about prostate cancer call The Prostate Cancer Charity's confidential helpline 0800 074 8383 which is staffed by specialist nurses and open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday and Wednesdays from 7-9pm.