# Prostate cancer: symptoms, PSA test, treatment and survival > Source: World Aid Network — https://worldaidnetwork.org/cancer/prostate-cancer > Last reviewed: 2026-08-22 ## In short Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in UK men. It grows in the prostate, a small gland below the bladder. Early disease often has no symptoms, so a PSA blood test can help find it. Men over 50, or 45 if Black or with a family history, can ask their GP. Most men diagnosed early live many years. Symptoms, the PSA blood test, treatment and survival — plus how World Aid Network funds care for men who cannot pay. This World Aid Network guide covers prostate cancer symptoms, the PSA blood test, Gleason score, stages, treatment, survival, and how we fund care for men who cannot pay in Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia. It is general information, not medical advice. https://worldaidnetwork.org/cancer/prostate-cancer ## At a glance - ~57,900: New UK diagnoses a year (Cancer Research UK, 2019 and 2021–2022) - 1 in 8 / 1 in 4: Lifetime risk in UK men / lifetime risk in Black men (Prostate Cancer UK) - ~12,300: UK deaths a year — the second most common cause of cancer death in men (CRUK, 2022–2024) - Age 50 (45): When men can ask a GP for a PSA test — 45 if Black or with a family history ## What is prostate cancer? Prostate cancer is a malignant tumour that starts in the prostate, a walnut-sized gland below the bladder in men and people with a prostate. It is the most common cancer in UK men. Many tumours grow slowly; some are aggressive and need treatment quickly. The prostate sits just below the bladder and surrounds part of the urethra — the tube that carries urine. Its job is to make fluid that forms part of semen. Cancer develops when cells in the gland grow out of control. Most prostate cancers are adenocarcinomas, meaning they start in the glandular cells. Some stay inside the prostate for years and may never cause harm. Others break through the capsule, reach nearby lymph nodes, or spread to bones and other organs. Cancer Research UK counts around 57,900 new diagnoses a year in the UK (2019 and 2021–2022 average, about 160 a day). Prostate Cancer UK, using more recent figures published in January 2026, says more than 64,000 men are now diagnosed every year. Around 12,300 men die of prostate cancer each year. About one in eight UK men will be diagnosed in their lifetime. ## What are the symptoms of prostate cancer? Early prostate cancer often causes no symptoms at all. When signs appear they are usually urinary — needing to pee more often, especially at night, a weak or stop-start flow, or a feeling that the bladder has not emptied. Blood in urine or semen, or new back, hip or pelvic pain, should always be checked by a GP. The prostate surrounds the urethra, so a growth large enough to press on that tube can change how you pee. Those same changes are far more often caused by a non-cancerous enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH) or by prostatitis (inflammation). That is why symptoms are a reason to see a GP, not a diagnosis on their own. Because early, treatable disease is often silent, the PSA blood test is the main way to find prostate cancer before symptoms start. Do not wait for pain or blood if you are in a higher-risk group — ask about a PSA test. - Difficulty starting to pee, or having to strain - A weak or intermittent urine flow - Needing to pee more often, especially at night (nocturia) - A feeling that the bladder has not fully emptied - A sudden, urgent need to pee - Blood in the urine or semen - Unexplained pain in the lower back, hips, pelvis or bones ## When should you see a doctor about prostate cancer symptoms? See a GP if you notice new urinary changes, blood in your urine or semen, or pain in the back, hips or pelvis that does not go away. Most of these signs are not cancer, but they should be checked. If you feel very unwell, contact NHS 111 or seek urgent help. You do not need to have every symptom on a list. One persistent change is enough to book an appointment. Take a note of how long it has been going on, whether it is worse at night, and whether anyone in your family has had prostate, breast or ovarian cancer — that helps the GP. World Aid Network publishes this as general information, not a diagnosis. Only a clinician can assess you. This guide does not fund or replace NHS care in the UK. ## What is a PSA test for prostate cancer? A PSA test is a blood test that measures prostate-specific antigen, a protein made by the prostate. A raised level can be a sign of prostate cancer, but an enlarged prostate, a urine infection, recent sex or vigorous exercise can also raise it. Some cancers do not raise PSA at all. There is no national NHS prostate cancer screening programme like breast or bowel screening. Instead, the NHS Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme lets men aged 50 and over request a PSA test after an informed discussion about the benefits and the limits. A raised PSA usually leads to an MRI scan of the prostate, then a targeted biopsy if the scan looks suspicious. The biopsy is what confirms cancer. PSA alone cannot do that. To avoid a falsely high reading, GPs often advise not ejaculating or doing vigorous exercise such as cycling in the 48 hours before the test, and waiting if you have a urine infection. ## Does the NHS screen for prostate cancer? No. The UK does not run a national prostate cancer screening programme. Men aged 50 and over can still ask their GP for a PSA blood test after talking through the pros and cons. Higher-risk men are encouraged to have that conversation from age 45. The NHS continues to study targeted screening for higher-risk groups. Screening for everyone has not been introduced because PSA is not accurate enough on its own. It misses some cancers, raises false alarms in men who do not have cancer, and can find slow-growing tumours that would never have caused harm — leading to treatment some men did not need. Informed choice is the current UK approach: you can have the test if you want it, once you understand those trade-offs. If you have symptoms, that is investigation, not screening — see a GP either way. ## Who is at higher risk of prostate cancer? Risk rises with age, especially from 50, and most diagnoses are in older men. Black African and Black Caribbean men have about a 1 in 4 lifetime risk. A father or brother with prostate cancer roughly doubles your risk. A BRCA2 gene change also raises risk. Obesity and inactivity may play a smaller role. You cannot change your age, ethnicity or family history. What you can change is whether you have the conversation about a PSA test at the right age, and whether urinary or bone-pain symptoms are checked rather than put down to 'getting older'. Diet evidence is weaker. The NHS does not recommend a special prostate diet beyond general healthy eating, a healthy weight and staying active. Those steps help overall health even when they do not specifically prevent prostate cancer. - Age — risk rises sharply after 50; more than a third of new UK cases are in men aged 75 and over (Cancer Research UK) - Black ethnicity — about 1 in 4 Black men in the UK will get prostate cancer, versus 1 in 8 men overall (Prostate Cancer UK) - Family history — father or brother diagnosed, especially under 60 - Inherited gene changes — particularly BRCA2 - Body weight and activity — the most evidence-backed lifestyle factors ## Why are Black men at higher risk of prostate cancer? Black men in the UK have about a 1 in 4 lifetime risk of prostate cancer, roughly double the 1 in 8 risk for men overall. The disease can start younger and behave more aggressively. Prostate Cancer UK advises Black men to talk to a GP about a PSA test from age 45. The dedicated prostate cancer in Black men guide owns 1 in 4 lifetime risk, PSA from 45 for Black African and Black Caribbean men, and a donate form. This hub page owns general symptoms, Gleason score, stages and UK survival. Almost 1,600 Black men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year in England. If you are Black, you do not need symptoms to ask. Book a GP appointment from age 45, say you want to discuss a PSA test, and mention any family history. Our 30-second risk checker can help you see where you sit before that appointment. ## How is prostate cancer diagnosed? Diagnosis usually starts with a PSA blood test and often a digital rectal examination. If PSA is raised, the next step is typically a multiparametric MRI of the prostate. If the MRI looks suspicious, a targeted biopsy samples the tissue. Those samples are graded with the Gleason score and staged with the TNM system. MRI before biopsy has changed UK practice: many men with a reassuring scan never need a biopsy. When a biopsy is needed it is usually MRI-targeted, which is more accurate than older random sampling. Together, PSA level, Gleason grade (or ISUP grade group) and TNM stage put the cancer into a risk category. That category — not any single number — guides whether active surveillance, surgery, radiotherapy or hormone therapy is discussed first. ## What is the Gleason score for prostate cancer? The Gleason score grades how aggressive prostate cancer looks under the microscope. A pathologist scores the two most common cell patterns from 1 to 5 and adds them. Gleason 6 is low grade, 7 is intermediate, and 8 to 10 is high grade. ISUP grade groups 1 to 5 are now often used alongside it. Gleason 6 (grade group 1) cancers are often slow-growing and may be suitable for active surveillance. Gleason 8 to 10 (grade groups 4 and 5) cancers are more likely to grow and spread, so treatment is usually recommended if the man is fit enough. The score is only one part of the picture. Stage, PSA, MRI findings and your general health all matter. Ask your specialist to explain your grade group in plain English before you decide on treatment. ## What are the stages of prostate cancer? Prostate cancer is staged with the TNM system. Stage I and II mean the tumour is still inside the prostate. Stage III means it has grown through the capsule or into the seminal vesicles. Stage IV means it has reached lymph nodes, bones or other organs. Stage and grade together drive treatment choices. Localised (Stage I–II) disease is often curable with surgery or radiotherapy, and some low-risk cases are monitored instead. Locally advanced (Stage III) disease is still frequently treated with the aim of long-term control. Metastatic (Stage IV) disease is not usually curable, but hormone therapy and other drugs can control it for years. In England in 2022, 53% of prostate cancers with a known stage were found at Stage I or II (Cancer Research UK). Finding cancer while it is still inside the prostate is why the PSA conversation matters. ## What is the treatment for prostate cancer? Treatment depends on stage, grade, PSA, age and what side effects you most want to avoid. Options include active surveillance, surgery (often robotic prostatectomy), external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and newer drugs for advanced disease. A specialist team should walk through the trade-offs with you. Because the prostate sits next to nerves and muscles used for erections and bladder control, surgery and radiotherapy can cause urinary leaks and erection difficulties. Techniques have improved, including nerve-sparing and robotic surgery, but no treatment is side-effect free. Hormone therapy commonly causes hot flushes, fatigue, loss of libido and thinner bones. For many men with low-risk disease, the kindest first step is not to treat at all, but to watch closely. That is active surveillance — a recognised NHS approach, not a delay. ## What is active surveillance for prostate cancer? Active surveillance means monitoring a low-risk, localised prostate cancer with regular PSA tests, MRI scans and occasional biopsies, and starting treatment only if the cancer shows signs of growing. It avoids the side effects of surgery or radiotherapy for cancers that may never have caused harm. Watchful waiting is different: it is a gentler approach, usually for older men or men with other serious illnesses, focused on treating symptoms if they appear rather than trying to cure the cancer. If you are offered active surveillance, ask how often you will have PSA tests and MRI scans, and what change would trigger treatment. It is a plan, not 'doing nothing'. ## What is the survival rate for prostate cancer? Survival is generally good when prostate cancer is found early. About 8 in 10 UK men (78.9%) survive ten years or more. Five-year survival in England is around 88%. For cancer still inside the prostate, ten-year survival exceeds 98%. Stage IV disease is harder, but newer treatments have improved how long men live. Cancer Research UK reports around 57,900 new cases a year and around 12,300 deaths a year. Prostate Cancer UK says more than 540,000 men in the UK are living with or after prostate cancer. Most men diagnosed in the UK die with the disease rather than from it. These figures describe groups, not individuals. Your outlook depends on stage, grade, how far it has spread, other illnesses, and which treatments you can have. ## Can prostate cancer be cured? Localised prostate cancer — still inside the prostate — is often curable with surgery or radiotherapy. Many men treated at that stage are disease-free for ten years or more. Metastatic (Stage IV) prostate cancer is not usually curable, but hormone therapy and other treatments can control it and extend life for years. Cure is not the only good outcome. For some slow-growing cancers, living well without treatment side effects is the aim. For advanced disease, the aim is control: fewer symptoms, longer life, and support for urinary, sexual and bone health. If you are comparing charities, remember that research charities fund trials and discovery. World Aid Network funds treatment costs for poor patients overseas who have already been recommended care they cannot pay for. ## How does prostate cancer affect men in poorer countries? The same cancer is far deadlier where PSA testing, specialist urology and hormone therapy are scarce or unaffordable. The World Health Organization notes that prostate cancer incidence is rising fastest in low-income countries as populations age, while treatment has not kept pace. World Aid Network funds care for men who cannot pay in Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia. In the UK, most men diagnosed early can expect to live many years. In a low-income setting a man may present late, with bone pain, because there was no PSA test and no money for an MRI or biopsy. Hormone therapy, radiotherapy and surgery then sit behind a hospital bill his family cannot meet. World Aid Network does not run UK clinics and does not replace the NHS. We pay treatment costs through locally licensed oncologists in registered partner hospitals in Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia — never as cash to patients. The Cancer Emergency Appeal funds all types of cancer, including prostate cancer. ## What will a donation for prostate cancer treatment provide? A gift to World Aid Network's Cancer Emergency Appeal helps pay for diagnosis and treatment that a poor patient has been recommended but cannot afford. Typical partner costs start at £10 for tests, £25 for medication, £50 for a chemotherapy session and £100 for fuller surgical or treatment support. Trustees direct gifts to the most urgent cases. This is treatment access, not laboratory research and not UK NHS care. Clinicians in partner hospitals decide the medical plan. We fund the bill. Give what you can on this page or via the Cancer Emergency Appeal. A monthly gift helps partners keep treating the next man who is turned away. - £10 — diagnostic tests - £25 — cancer medication - £50 — one chemotherapy session - £100 — surgical or fuller treatment support ## How can I donate to help men with prostate cancer? Donate by card on this page or at worldaidnetwork.org/donate and choose the Cancer Emergency Appeal. Your gift funds treatment for patients who cannot pay in Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia. World Aid Network is a UK CIO with Charity Commission registration in progress; Gift Aid applies once registration is granted. Use the form beside this guide, or open the donate page and select cancer care. If you are collecting at a workplace, mosque, church or in someone's memory, email info@worldaidnetwork.org and we will mark the gift. If you need UK support as a patient or relative, contact your GP, NHS 111, Prostate Cancer UK or Macmillan. We are an overseas treatment-funding charity, not a UK helpline. ## Prostate cancer symptoms compared with an enlarged prostate - What you notice: Needing to pee more often, especially at night — Often caused by: Usually a non-cancerous enlarged prostate (BPH) — What to do: See a GP. Ask about a PSA test. - What you notice: Weak, stop-start flow or difficulty starting — Often caused by: Usually BPH, not cancer — What to do: Still worth checking — treatment can ease the symptoms. - What you notice: Feeling the bladder has not emptied — Often caused by: Usually BPH — What to do: See a GP. Do not ignore it if it is new. - What you notice: Blood in urine or semen — Often caused by: Needs prompt assessment — several causes, including cancer — What to do: See a GP without delay. - What you notice: New pain in the back, hips, pelvis or bones that does not go away — Often caused by: Many causes; sometimes cancer that has spread — What to do: See a GP promptly, especially with other risk factors. ## Who can ask for a PSA blood test in the UK? - Who: Most men — From what age: 50 — Why: NHS informed-choice PSA test after a discussion with a GP - Who: Black African or Black Caribbean men — From what age: 45 — Why: Lifetime risk is about 1 in 4, not 1 in 8 - Who: Men whose father or brother had prostate cancer — From what age: 45 — Why: Family history roughly doubles lifetime risk - Who: Men with a BRCA2 (or related) gene change — From what age: Ask a GP — Why: Inherited risk can be higher and start younger - Who: Any man with urinary, blood or bone-pain symptoms — From what age: Any adult age — Why: Symptoms should be assessed, not waited out ## What treatment is usually discussed? - Situation: Low-risk cancer still inside the prostate — Treatments often discussed: Active surveillance — regular PSA tests, MRI and, if needed, biopsies. Treat only if it changes. - Situation: Intermediate- or high-risk cancer still inside the prostate — Treatments often discussed: Surgery to remove the prostate (often robotic) or radiotherapy, sometimes with hormone therapy. - Situation: Cancer that has grown through the prostate capsule — Treatments often discussed: Radiotherapy with hormone therapy is common. Surgery is sometimes an option. - Situation: Cancer that has spread to nodes, bones or other organs — Treatments often discussed: Hormone therapy (androgen deprivation), often with chemotherapy or newer drugs such as enzalutamide or abiraterone. ## What is the survival rate for prostate cancer? - Measure: New cases each year — Figure: Around 57,900 (about 160 a day) — Source: Cancer Research UK, 2019 and 2021–2022 - Measure: Latest charity-cited diagnoses — Figure: More than 64,000 a year — Source: Prostate Cancer UK, January 2026 - Measure: Deaths each year — Figure: Around 12,300 — Source: Cancer Research UK, 2022–2024 - Measure: Ten-year survival (all stages, UK) — Figure: 78.9% (about 8 in 10 men) — Source: Cancer Research UK, 2018 - Measure: Localised disease (still in the prostate) — Figure: Ten-year survival exceeds 98% — Source: NHS / UK cancer statistics, widely cited - Measure: Men living with or after prostate cancer — Figure: Around 540,000 in the UK — Source: Prostate Cancer UK, January 2026 ## What will a donation provide? - £10: Diagnostic tests that help a partner oncologist confirm the next step - £25: Cancer medication towards a treatment cycle a family cannot afford - £50: One chemotherapy session for a patient who would otherwise be turned away - £100: Surgical support or a fuller block of treatment costs ## How to ask your GP for a PSA test In the UK, men aged 50 and over — or 45 if Black or with a family history of prostate cancer — can ask a GP for a PSA blood test after an informed discussion. - Check your risk: Use our prostate cancer risk checker, or note your age, ethnicity and whether a father or brother had prostate cancer. - Book a GP appointment: Say you want to discuss a PSA test. You do not need urinary symptoms to ask if you are in an eligible age group. - Talk through the pros and cons: A raised PSA can lead to MRI and biopsy even when you do not have cancer. Some slow-growing cancers never need treatment. - Prepare for the blood test: Avoid ejaculation and vigorous exercise such as cycling for 48 hours, and wait if you have a urine infection. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is prostate cancer? Prostate cancer is a tumour that starts in the prostate gland below the bladder. It is the most common cancer in UK men, with around 57,900 diagnoses a year (Cancer Research UK) and more than 64,000 on Prostate Cancer UK's latest figures. Many cases grow slowly; some need urgent treatment. ### What are the first signs of prostate cancer? Often there are none. When signs appear they are usually urinary — peeing more often at night, a weak flow, or a feeling the bladder has not emptied. Blood in urine or semen, or new bone, back or hip pain, should be checked by a GP. World Aid Network's guide is information, not a diagnosis. ### Can I get a PSA test on the NHS? Yes. There is no national screening programme, but men aged 50 and over can ask a GP for a PSA blood test after discussing the benefits and limits. Black men and men with a father or brother who had prostate cancer are encouraged to have that talk from age 45. ### Does a high PSA mean I have prostate cancer? No. An enlarged prostate, a urine infection, recent ejaculation or vigorous exercise can all raise PSA. Some men with cancer have a normal PSA. A raised result usually leads to an MRI, not an instant diagnosis. ### What is the survival rate for prostate cancer in the UK? About 8 in 10 men (78.9%) survive ten years or more (Cancer Research UK). Five-year survival in England is around 88%. For cancer still inside the prostate, ten-year survival exceeds 98%. Stage IV disease has a poorer outlook but can often be controlled for years. ### Can prostate cancer be cured? Cancer still inside the prostate is often curable with surgery or radiotherapy. Advanced prostate cancer that has spread is not usually curable, but hormone therapy, chemotherapy and newer drugs can control it for a long time. ### Why is prostate cancer more common in Black men? Black men in the UK have about a 1 in 4 lifetime risk, versus 1 in 8 for men overall. The cancer can start younger and be more aggressive. Prostate Cancer UK advises a PSA conversation with a GP from age 45. Full guide: https://worldaidnetwork.org/blog/prostate-cancer-black-men. ### What is the Gleason score? It grades how aggressive prostate cancer looks in a biopsy. Two cell patterns scored 1 to 5 are added together. Gleason 6 is low grade; 7 is intermediate; 8 to 10 is high grade. ISUP grade groups 1 to 5 are often reported alongside it. ### Is an enlarged prostate the same as prostate cancer? No. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-cancerous enlargement that is very common with age and causes many of the same urinary symptoms. A GP can assess you and discuss whether a PSA test is useful. ### How can I help during Movember? Official Movember fundraising at uk.movember.com supports the Movember Foundation. World Aid Network is not a Movember partner. To fund prostate cancer treatment overseas this November, donate at https://worldaidnetwork.org/blog/movember-prostate-cancer-developing-world. Gifts pay hospital bills in Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia — not UK research. ### Does World Aid Network treat prostate cancer in the UK? No. We do not provide NHS care or UK clinics. World Aid Network funds cancer treatment — including prostate cancer where partner hospitals can deliver it — for poor patients in Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia through locally licensed oncologists. Donate via the Cancer Emergency Appeal. ### How can I donate to prostate cancer treatment? Give by card at https://worldaidnetwork.org/donate and choose the Cancer Emergency Appeal, or use the form on this page. Typical partner costs include £50 for a chemotherapy session. World Aid Network's Charity Commission registration is in progress (application 5290505); Gift Aid applies once it is granted. ### Where should I go for UK patient support? See your GP or NHS 111 for medical advice. Prostate Cancer UK and Macmillan Cancer Support offer specialist UK information and helplines. World Aid Network funds treatment overseas; we are not a UK patient helpline. ## How you can help World Aid Network funds cancer treatment for poor patients in Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia through locally licensed oncologists. Donate at https://worldaidnetwork.org/cancer/prostate-cancer or https://worldaidnetwork.org/donate?cause=cancer-treatment&appeal=cancer-emergency ## Sources - NHS — Prostate cancer: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/ - NHS — PSA test: https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/psa-test/ - Cancer Research UK — Prostate cancer statistics: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/prostate-cancer - Cancer Research UK — About prostate cancer: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/prostate-cancer - Prostate Cancer UK — Facts and figures (updated January 2026): https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information-and-support/risk-and-symptoms/about-prostate-cancer/facts-and-figures - World Health Organization — Cancer fact sheet and prostate cancer burden in low- and middle-income countries --- This is general information, not medical advice, published by World Aid Network. Always consult a qualified clinician about your own health.