A Peterborough man who had prostate cancer says the stigma around it means less people are getting tested
The British Association of Urological Surgeons are urging GPs to stop using what they call outdated and more intimate exams as it deters men from coming forward
A man from Peterborough who was diagnosed with prostate cancer says the stigma needs to be broken to encourage more men to be tested.
It comes as the British Association of Urological Surgeons are urging GPs to stop using intimate exams to diagnose people as it deters men from coming forward.
There's still resistance to the testing
Research shows that 6 in 10 men were concerned about having a rectal exam.
Of those, over a third would not speak to a GP about prostate worries because they feared the DRE exam.
Even worse, Black men — who have twice the risk of getting prostate cancer and dying from it — report that they feel an even greater stigma about rectal exams.
if I hadn't got tested it could have been fatal
Matthew Biggin was tested with a blood test on an outreach bus in the city centre. He said:
"There's still resistance to the testing."
"There are guys I know who really don't want the examination and are quite happy to sit in ignorance."
"I think the stigma often comes from yourself."
"There were times I felt frustrated and down about it at times, but you have to get that out of your mind because it's saving your life."
"But, if I hadn't got tested, it could have potentially been fatal."
1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer, and it is now England’s most common cancer. It’s also the only common cancer without a screening programme.