Thank you Michael, Graham, Arthur and Dedworth. I’m glad the thread is of some help . Dedworth’s link includes a helpful video .


Prince Michael of Kent is not alone – he joins the list of well known men from all walks of life for whom the diagnosis of prostate cancer was public knowledge – including Michael Parkinson, Roger Moore, Robert De Niro, Ian McKellen, Colin Powell, Francois Mitterand, and Charles Haughey.


Prostate cancer is the most common UK cancer in men - together with lung and bowel cancers, over half of new cases. Survival is relatively good - over 4/5 survive 10 years, compared to 1/25 for lung and about 3/5 for bowel. This is partly because greater awareness and PSA testing has meant more cases of cancers with a very good outlook. As with breast screening, at least some of these would never have spread or killed the patient, even without treatment.


Considering how common this cancer is, it’s disappointing that diagnosis remains difficult. The prostate does gradually enlarge with age which produces the symptoms well known to many men over the age of 50. Conversely, prostate cancer may not produce these symptoms. I can understand why men might be reluctant to visit their doctor, and are confused about the PSA blood test.


The latest figures I can find for the Philippines still show how uncommon this cancer is there – which may reassure those with older male relatives. Sadly it does have a relatively greater death rate - because it’s diagnosed later, at a more advanced stage. Around 2,700 cases were diagnosed in 2010, but 1,400 were thought to have led to death (
http://business.inquirer.net/173258/...rostate-cancer
).


Obviously I can only give an opinion on the Forum. I’ve already said I would not have PSA measured, and don’t have symptoms to make me visit my doctor. " The Great Prostate Hoax " (http://www.economist.com/news/books-...r-help-or-harm ) may not help that decision !