Proton beam therapy is an advanced form of external radiotherapy that uses high-energy proton beams instead of photon x-ray beams or electrons. Carefully measured doses of protons are delivered to the precise area needing treatment, using the latest IBA ProteusONE technology. This ensures that the delivery of proton beam therapy is highly accurate and prevents the risk of radiation reaching surrounding healthy tissue.
Radiotherapy is used to kill and destroy cancer cells. It utilises radiation in the form of high-energy x-rays, known as photons, to kill and damage the cancerous cells and prevent their growth and reproduction. It can be used as a non-surgical option to treat cancer, and it can also be used to shrink a tumour or in combination with other treatments.
The Rutherford Cancer Centres and Elekta are bringing the next generation of personalised adaptive radiotherapy technology to oncology centres across the UK, with the new MR-linac Elekta Unity now available at the Rutherford Cancer Centre North West in Liverpool.
Blog post by Rutherford Cancer Centres
Movember is a charity that aims to raise awareness and funding to help the 55,000 men diagnosed with some form of male cancer in the UK each year. In addition to tackling these cancers, Movember also aims to provide mental health support and suicide prevention aid to struggling men across the globe.
The charity was established in 2003 by Travis Garone and Luke Slattery. They noticed that moustaches were no longer prominent in the current fashion sphere, which then led to the idea of growing a moustache to campaign for men’s mental health and those who have prostate cancer.
However, Movember has since evolved and launched other campaigns for raising money and awareness, such as Move for Movember, Host a Mo-ment, and Mo Your Own Way. In 2020 alone, the Movember global community raised $129 million for men’s health, and 85.9% of these funds were allocated to men’s health projects.
For all cancers, the sooner the diagnosis and treatment, the likelihood of survival is increased. However, many men do not know what signs to look out for. Therefore, we want to take the opportunity this Movember to inform men of what cancers can specifically affect them, what the symptoms are, and how these cancers are treated.
Male-specific cancers are those that can affect the male reproductive system. There are three types:
Some of these cancers are more common than others, and each type has its own set of symptoms to be mindful of.
Prostate cancer is the most common male-specific cancer, affecting over 52,000 men in the UK each year, as reported by Cancer Research UK. Over the last decade, the number of men diagnosed has increased, with 1 in 8 men in the UK being diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their life.
When caught in the first or second stages, almost 100% of those diagnosed will survive for five years or more after their diagnosis. However, once the cancer reaches its third stage, the survival rate for five years or more after diagnosis reduces to 95%. The chances of survival rapidly decrease upon reaching stage four, with only 50% of men surviving for five years or more after their diagnosis.
Therefore, early detection is crucial. The symptoms to look out for include:
Some of these symptoms can be caused by the inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis) rather than prostate cancer. Despite this, you should still book an appointment with your GP if any of the above symptoms present themselves.
There are many myths surrounding male cancer, particularly when it comes to prostate cancer. However, these myths are untrue, and this Movember, we aim to debunk three of the most popular misunderstandings about prostate cancer.
Testicular cancer is less common than prostate cancer, with over 2,000 men in the UK diagnosed every year, as reported by Cancer Research UK. The outlook for testicular cancer is one of the best for all cancers, with nearly 100% of men surviving the disease. Typically, over 95% of men will survive for one or more years after their diagnosis, 95% will survive for five or more years after being diagnosed, and 90% will survive for ten or more years after their diagnosis.
The chances of survival are much greater when cancer is detected early. Men should perform self-examination on their testicles at least once a month.
The symptoms of testicular cancer to look out for are:
Most testicular lumps will not be cancerous, but it is still important to contact your GP if you develop one or more of the above symptoms, especially if they are persistent or don’t improve.
Penile cancer is a rare form of cancer, affecting just under 700 men in the UK per year, as reported by Cancer Research UK. Due to its rarity, there are no UK wide statistics available for penile cancer survival by stage. However, one hospital assessed their penile cancer survival rates between 2000 and 2011 and discovered the following:
The above figures indicate that early detection is vital to survival, and so the following symptoms need to be identified as soon as possible:
The above symptoms may indicate other medical conditions such as sexually transmitted diseases and don't necessarily mean you have penile cancer. However, if you have one or more of these symptoms, you should book an appointment with your GP.
Depending on how your symptoms present themselves, your doctor will likely carry out at least one of the following:
Across the Rutherford Cancer Centres network, we house some of the most sophisticated and accurate diagnostic imaging equipment available. We can offer rapid and flexible appointments for a range of medical conditions. If you have any health and wellness concerns due to any of the symptoms mentioned above, don't hesitate to contact us today.
Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be a traumatic experience that severely affects a person’s life and wellbeing. Here at the Rutherford Cancer Centres, we are aware of these effects and do all we can to support our patients physically, mentally, and emotionally. Macmillan Cancer Support is also available to offer advice and guidance to cancer patients and their loved ones.
If you recognise any signs of male cancers in your body, it’s vital that you make an appointment with your GP. For information regarding male-specific cancer diagnoses, treatment, and support available at the Rutherford Cancer Centres, or to discuss a referral from your GP, please get in touch with us.
Sources: Movember, Cancer Research UK
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