The 16th to 23rd September 2024 is Male Cancer Awareness Week, a vital reminder of the importance of recognising the symptoms of male cancers and the life-saving impact of early intervention. This year’s focus is on three main types of male cancer: prostate, testicular, and penile cancer.

Understanding the symptoms

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, and its early symptoms can be easy to miss. Key signs to watch for include: 

• Frequent urination, especially at night
• A sudden, urgent need to urinate
• Difficulty starting urination (hesitancy)
• Straining or taking longer than usual to urinate
• Weak urine flow
• A feeling that the bladder hasn’t fully emptied
• Blood in urine or semen     

Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer, though less common, primarily affects younger men. Early detection is crucial, and symptoms include:

• A lump or swelling in the testicle
• An increase in testicle size
• An ache or pain in the testicle or scrotum (the skin that covers the testicles)
• A feeling of heaviness, firmness, or hardness in the scrotum.

Penile Cancer

Penile cancer is a rarer form of cancer that usually affects the skin of the penis or the head (glans).

The most common symptoms are:

• A growth, lump or sore that does not heal within 4 weeks
• A rash
• Bleeding from the penis or under the foreskin
• A smelly discharge
• Difficulty pulling back the foreskin (phimosis)
• A change in the colour of the skin on the penis or foreskin

What if there are mistakes in your treatment?

Early identification of male cancer symptoms is crucial to ensure timely referrals and accurate diagnoses. Unfortunately, errors can occur in the healthcare process, leading to devastating consequences.

Delayed or missed diagnoses can result in avoidable harm, serious injury, or even death. If you or a loved one has been affected by such errors, you may have grounds for a medical negligence claim. Common issues include:

• Missed diagnosis: a failure to take account of clear symptoms or to test for cancer.
• Late diagnosis: a failure to notice symptoms or diagnose cancer when it first appeared.
• Wrong diagnosis: diagnosing the wrong condition, which prevents timely cancer treatment.
• Failure to refer: a detection of cancer which was not followed-up with a specialist or with a referral for appropriate treatment.

Campaigning for change

In recent news, a prostate cancer patient shared how he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, which had already spread to his bones. Diagnosed in 2018, John Gidman, initially attended his local GP after needing to use the toilet five or six times a night. Mr Gidman believes if a national screening programme was in place at that time he might have caught the disease before it became uncurable.

A new £42 million prostate cancer screening trial, TRANSFORM, led by Imperial College London in collaboration with UCL, Queen Mary University of London, and the Institute of Cancer Research, aims to revolutionise the detection of prostate cancer. Backed by Prostate Cancer UK, the trial seeks to identify the most effective screening methods, potentially doubling the number of lives saved and reducing prostate cancer deaths by up to 40%.

The trial, which will begin recruiting participants in 2025, will compare various screening methods, including PSA blood tests, MRI scans, and genetic testing, against current NHS procedures. The first stage involves 12,500 participants, with findings expected in three years, followed by a second stage involving up to 300,000 participants over 10 years.

How can Switalskis help?

If you think you have received poor medical treatment relating to a diagnosis of male cancer, you may have a medical negligence claim.

At Switalskis we understand that a cancer diagnosis can be very daunting. When a diagnosis is compromised, missed, or delayed, it can be even more difficult to come to terms with and have devastating consequences.

Often, making a medical negligence claim is the only way to find answers, to seek financial help and to prevent the same mistakes from happening again.

Speak to a specialist solicitor from Switalskis today to learn more about how we can help you.  Call us on 0800 138 0458 or contact us through the website for a sensitive conversation about your situation.

About Male Cancer Awareness Week

Orchid’s male cancer awareness week takes place every September and is dedicated to raising awareness of the risks and symptoms associated with prostate, testicular, and penile cancers. This campaign encourages men—and healthcare professionals—to become familiar with these cancers and to promote early detection.

This year, Orchid is also focusing on fundraising through their ‘Small Change, Big Difference’ campaign, aiming to support their essential services. Alongside Orchid, other male cancer charities are working tirelessly to raise awareness and improve early diagnosis and treatment options for men at risk.