Prostate Cancer Awareness Month is an opportunity to highlight one of the most common cancers affecting men in the UK. Understanding how prostate cancer develops, how it is diagnosed, and where things can go wrong is important not only for health reasons, but also for recognising when medical care may fall below an acceptable standard.
What is Prostate Cancer?
The prostate gland forms part of the male reproductive system and is located at the base of the bladder. It produces a protein known as prostate specific antigen (PSA). Elevated PSA levels may indicate the presence of prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer develops when genetic changes within the prostate cause cells to grow uncontrollably, leading to tumour formation. Most cases begin in the outer gland cells of the prostate. It is more commonly diagnosed in older men and is more prevalent in Black men than in White men. It is also the most common cancer in the UK.
Symptoms and Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is typically investigated using a PSA blood test and a digital rectal examination. Where results are abnormal, further imaging such as an MRI scan may be used to provide a clearer view of the prostate. A biopsy is usually required to confirm a diagnosis.
Common symptoms of prostate cancer may include:
- Blood in urine or semen
- A weak or interrupted urine stream
- Difficulty emptying the bladder
- Difficulty starting or stopping urine flow
- Needing to urinate more frequently than usual
- Persistent pain in the back, hips or bones
Symptoms are not always present in the early stages, which is why timely investigation and appropriate testing are important.
When Could Prostate Cancer Involve Medical Negligence?
In some situations, prostate cancer may not be diagnosed or treated appropriately due to errors in medical care. Where this happens, it may be appropriate to explore whether medical negligence has occurred.
Examples may include:
- Failure to recognise signs and symptoms and consider prostate cancer as a possible diagnosis
- Failure to carry out appropriate investigations, such as a PSA test or digital rectal examination
- Delays in referring a patient to a urology specialist
- Misinterpretation of test results, including PSA levels or MRI findings
- Errors in carrying out a biopsy
- Delays in diagnosis or in starting treatment
- Errors in treatment once cancer has been identified
- Failure to investigate potential metastasis where indicated
You can find more information about these types of issues on our related resource covering
cancer misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis.
How We Can Help
If you are concerned about the care you or a loved one has received, you may wish to seek legal advice. Our experienced team of medical negligence solicitors supports clients across Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire, providing clear and confidential guidance.
We understand that every situation is different. Our approach is to listen carefully, review the circumstances, and advise you on your options in a straightforward and supportive way.
You can learn more about how we support clients here.
If you would like to speak with us, you can contact our team for an initial discussion with no obligation.