Prostate cancer is the most common cancer amongst men and causes 10 000 deaths in the UK every year. 40,000 new cases are diagnosed each year and one in eight men in the UK will develop prostate cancer. Although the exact causes are unknown, a man with a first degree relative with prostate cancer e.g. brother or father is likely to be at a slightly higher risk of contracting this disease themselves. However, if caught early and treated appropriately, the recovery rates are extremely good. There is currently no screening programme for prostate cancer in the UK.

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

There are generally no symptoms of prostate cancer in it’s earliest stages as it surrounds your urethra, however, once it grows it can affect the way you urinate, so men that experience changes in urination should seek medical advice from their doctor. Possible symptoms include:

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are particularly effective in identifying soft-tissue cancers, such as prostate, as the magnetic resonance uses the properties of the soft tissue itself to create the detail in the image. Because the MRI uses strong magnets you will be asked if you have any implants in your body which could be attracted to the magnets.

By combining an MRI scan with a blood test to check Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) levels, we can offer a highly effective screen for this disease. Please note that the blood test on its own is not effective as false positives can be caused by other issues such as a urinary tract infection or inflammation of the prostate.

With NHS pressures, it can be increasingly difficult to see your doctor as quickly as you might like. At Southdowns we appreciate that when you are ill you want to see your doctor as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary worry and to start any treatment quickly.

If you'd like a same day appointment please call our reception and we will do our very best to fit you in promptly.

Call us to book your appointment on 033 022 02000

Some alarming facts about skin cancer

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK and it is on the rise.

Here are some facts:

• 7 people a DAY in the UK die from skin cancer
• On average people dying of skin cancer lose 20 years of their lives 
• At least two 15-34 year olds are being diagnosed with skin cancer every DAY in the UK

We need to act to reverse this trend. To help to protect yourself and your family you can take the following steps:

• get your skin checked by a medical expert, 
• check your moles and report and unusual findings to your doctor (see signs below)
• use a good quality high factor sunscreen, 
• don’t go out in the sun at it’s peak between 11am and 3pm 
• cover up your head with a hat as your ears neck and scalp are vulnerable and often overlooked.

Here at Southdowns we offer a mole clinic so that we can help you keep an eye on your skin and check you and your family for signs of skin cancer. We can screen you for suspicious skin lesions, that may represent early skin cancer. We screen for Melanoma, Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma. We can arrange for urgent Consultant Dermatology opinion should we feel its necessary. 

Whatever your concerns are about your skin we can help. Our mole clinics are run from our Emsworth Clinic in Hampshire close to Petersfield, Chichester and Portsmouth and in Harley Street, London. Our skin cancer screening can give you peace of mind if you’ve got concerns about any of your moles or skin blemishes. It is much better to get moles or other skin concerns checked out as soon as you notice any issues with them. As with all cancers the sooner you get a diagnosis and the sooner you can start treatment the better.

Signs to look out for with moles:

• Getting bigger
• Looking inflamed
• Changes to the shape
• Changes to the colour – getting darker, becoming patchy or multi shaded
• Loss of symmetry - the two halves of your mole do not look the same
• Itching or pain
• Bleeding or becoming crusty

We can provide a mole check for you and your family to ensure that all is well. We can screen the whole family together for just £140*

Whatever your concerns we can help -  just give us a call on:

033 022 02000 or 01243 766447 or use our online booking system.

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*Terms and Conditions apply