25% of Men in This Age Group are Oblivious to Prostate Cancer Symptoms
Prostate cancer continues to be the most common form of cancer for men in the UK, with more than 50,000 diagnosed every year. Awareness of its symptoms, however, remains worryingly low, with many still failing to recognise the warning signs.
New research from Aviva has highlighted the urgent need to close this awareness gap, particularly for those in high-risk age groups.
The Survey
Aviva surveyed 1,000 UK men. The survey focused on health awareness and behaviours, revealing troubling stats about a general lack of knowledge of prostate cancer – a disease that poses increasing risks as men get older.
The Results
The findings show that 25 per cent of men aged 45-54 are not aware of any symptoms – the highest percentage across all age groups. As the incidence of prostate cancer rises steeply from ages 45-49 – and peaks between 75-79 – this is cause for concern. While fewer than half of men (46 per cent) reported some level of awareness, over one in five (22 per cent) couldn’t identify any symptoms at all.
When prompted, only 35 per cent correctly identified blood in the urine as a symptom, and 33 per cent recognised frequent peeing, particularly at night. Awareness of other symptoms, such as a weak flow (29 per cent), incomplete bladder emptying (26 per cent), and blood in semen (23 per cent), remained low.
What This Means For Us
'It’s concerning that there seems to be a lack of awareness of the symptoms of prostate cancer, with fewer than half of the men taking part in our survey saying that they have some awareness of the symptoms,' said Dr Doug Wright, Medical Director at Aviva UK Health. 'This lack of awareness peaks at an age when men are most at risk of getting the condition.
'Common symptoms include needing to urinate more frequently – particularly at night, needing to rush to the toilet, a weak flow and blood in the urine or semen,' he continued. 'If prostate cancer is caught early, the prognosis can be much improved [as] treatment can be given quicker, helping to reduce the risk of advanced cancer or metastasis – where the cancer spreads to other parts of the body. All these things can help improve survival rates.'
The Bottom Line
The ever-evolving world of wearable tech allows us to measure more health metrics than ever – from glucose levels to sleep efficiency – but awareness of prostate cancer symptoms remains worryingly low among men in critical age groups.
Education about the risks and encouraging regular health checks can make a life-saving difference. And if you suspect something's not right, don't leave it to chance.
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