King's treatment for enlarged prostate leads to more men seeing GP

King Charles III, 75, was discharged earlier this week following treatment for a non-cancerous, benign prostate problem - a common condition in older men, according to the NHS.

Dr Jason Seewoodhary, a GP previously based in Worcester, said: "Following King Charles undergoing surgery there has been a significant increase in the number of men consulting with their GP who are worried about prostate cancer.

"The prostate gland is located just below the bladder. It is about the size of a walnut and surrounds the urethra, which is the tube that empties urine from the bladder to the penis. It produces fluid that makes up a part of semen. As a man ages, the prostate tends to increase in size.

"Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. More than 52,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in the UK and one in eight will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.

TREATMENT: The King recently received treatement for an enlarged prostate. (Image: PA)

"Men aged 50 or over, and men with a family history of prostate cancer, are more at risk, and your risk increases as you get older. Black men are at greater risk of prostate cancer.

"Whilst most men with prostate cancer have no symptoms of the disease, warning symptoms include dribbling at the end of urinating, incomplete emptying of your bladder, incontinence, needing to urinate two or more times per night, pain when urinating or passing blood in the urine, a slowed or delayed start of the urinary stream, straining to urinate, and lower back pain."

Dr Seewoodhary urged anyone worried about prostate cancer to discuss concerns with their GP who can assess their risk, examine the prostate gland, and discuss whether the patient would benefit from a PSA blood test to detect prostate cancer.

"The PSA test is not perfect and will not find all prostate cancers," Dr Seewoodhary said.

DOCTOR: Dr Jason Seewoodhary (Image: Dr Jason Seewoodhary)

"It is important to be aware that about three in four with a raised PSA level will not have prostate cancer and around one in seven with a normal PSA level will have prostate cancer.

"Depending on your results, if you are deemed to be at high risk of prostate cancer, your GP may need to refer you to a prostate specialist called a urologist for further tests, such as an MRI scan of the prostate gland, and potentially treatment.

"I would like to reassure patients that in general prostate cancer carries an excellent prognosis - more than 95 per cent of patients will survive their cancer for 1 year, more than 85 per cent will survive their cancer for five years, and almost 80 per cent will survive their cancer for 10 years or more.”

The King's "corrective procedure" for his prostate was made public as a way of encouraging other men to get prostate checks.