Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, and about one in eight men in the UK will get prostate cancer in their lifetime. Prostate cancer mainly affects men over 50, and your risk increases with age.

More than 52,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year on average. But, the good news is that prostate cancer is often highly curable with early diagnosis and treatment.

September marks Orchid Male Cancer Awareness Week 2023, which seeks to raise awareness of male cancer, including prostate cancer.

The prostate is a gland, the size and shape of a walnut, which sits underneath the bladder and surrounds the urethra. Its primary function is to help make sperm, which grows larger as you age. The most common prostate problems are an enlarged prostate and also prostate cancer, which develops when prostate cells grow uncontrolled.

Sometimes, prostate cancer grows too slowly to cause problems or limits how long you’ll live and doesn’t require treatment. But it can proliferate and spread.

Prostate cancer symptoms to watch out for

Early-stage prostate cancer doesn’t usually cause any symptoms. In fact, urinary symptoms such as problems passing urine isn’t usually caused by prostate cancer. This is more likely caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

If prostate cancer has spread, it can cause symptoms such as back or bone pain, fatigue, and weight loss for no reason.

Therefore, knowing your modifiable risks and undergoing regular testing is essential.

A new UK study has established that a ten-minute MRI scan could be used to screen men for prostate. The scans have proved more accurate at diagnosing cancer than blood tests, which look for high protein levels called PSA.

For the Reimagine study published in the British Medical Journal of Oncology, men aged 50 to 75 in London were invited for screening – both MRI and PSA tests – which were carried out at University College Hospital.

More than half the men whose cancer was picked up on MRI had low PSA test scores below which is considered normal, and so would have been falsely reassured they were free of disease.

Professor Caroline Moore, consultant urologist at UCLH and chief investigator of the study at University College London, said: “Our results give an early indication that MRI could offer a more reliable method of detecting potentially serious cancers early.”

Our comprehensive Well Man Medicals encompass all approved tests for potential male health conditions and we also can work with you to adopt healthy lifestyle changes to modify your risks of developing potential health concerns. We also can refer to London’s top urologists for access to an MRI scan.

Call +44 (0)20 4580 1152 to arrange an appointment with one of our team.

Cardiovascular disease encompasses all conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels, including coronary heart disease, the most common type of heart disease. In fact, it’s estimated that approximately 7.6 million men and women live with cardiovascular disease in the UK.

About eight in 10 cases of cardiovascular disease are linked to preventable risk factors, such as poor diet, obesity, smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Finding innovative new methods for preventing cardiovascular disease will be an ongoing focus for the UK government as it appoints its first-ever Champion for Personalised Prevention.

The importance of cardiovascular health

Health tsar John Deanfield, a former Olympian and professor of cardiology at University College London, will lead the task force composed of experts from such diverse backgrounds as health economics, behavioural science, and technology. They will review how personalised data and tech can be harnessed to predict and manage heart disease more effectively.

Professor Deanfield said: “I am thrilled to continue my work with the Government on cardiovascular disease prevention. This appointment provides a real opportunity to radically rethink our approach to cardiovascular health and disease prevention. We intend to build an ongoing, life-long programme that empowers people to take control of predicting, managing and reducing their lifetime cardiovascular risk.”

Comprehensive executive medicals in London’s Harley Street

Our comprehensive executive medicals address health risk factors with a strong focus on cardiovascular health. They also go beyond simple screening, as we provide ongoing monitoring and preventative and management strategies.

It comprises several tests and scans to identify any issues with your heart at an early stage, including a coronary heart CT scan. This scan can help to spot calcium build-ups within your heart that can cause causes your arteries to narrow. As well as a heart CT scan, we test resting ECG and cholesterol levels, screen for atrial fibrillation, and calculate your cardiovascular risk score.

Some people may not be aware they are at risk of a heart attack or stroke because risk factors can be silent; you may have high blood pressure or raised cholesterol levels without having any symptoms.

Our clinic at 25 Harley Street has access to onsite world-class Diagnostics and Imaging. Call +44 (0)20 4580 1152 to arrange a medical at GP London W1.

From its humble beginnings in London’s Bushy Park in 2004 with just 13 friends partaking in a 5km timed run, to a global event that sees more than 350,000 runners around the globe turn up every Saturday, parkrun has become a phenomenon.

So, why has it become such an essential fix for so many people of all running abilities and why does the Royal College of Practitioners believe patients should be ‘prescribed’ parkrun to improve health and wellbeing and reduce the need for lifelong medication?

In 2018, the RCGP and parkrun launched a joint initiative to promote parkrun to patients. Since then, research has accumulated into the positive benefits for those suffering from various chronic conditions, from diabetes to depression.

“I recently attended a diabetes prevention talk and one of the statistics quoted was that a five-to-six-minute brisk walk per day increased life expectancy by four years,” agrees Dr Fiona Payne.

This is borne out by new research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. The ambitious UK study analysed health data for more than 30 million people and found that walking for at least 11 minutes per day could lower the risk of premature death by almost 25%.

3 benefits of parkrun

1. It gives you a – scientifically-proven – boost

A 2018 study conducted by Glasgow Caledonian University found that 89% of parkrunners believed taking part made them feel happier, boosted their mental health and improved their body image.

2. It could add years to your life

A study published last year in the British Journal of General Practice found that more than 9% of all participants and 45% of walkers reported at least one long-term health condition. These ranged from arthritis, obesity, hypertension, chronic pain, anxiety or depression, and Type 2 diabetes. Whatever their finishing time, respondents perceived that their physical health improved.

3. You don’t have to run – or walk – to reap the benefits

A survey of over 60,000 parkrunners, conducted independently by Sheffield Hallam University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC), found that the benefits of parkrun extended to those who volunteer as well as those who take part. Eighty-four per cent of volunteers said that volunteering made them feel happier.

In part, this is believed to be due to the connection to community that volunteers experience, another benefit of parkrun. And this was the inspiration for parkrun. Founder Paul Sinton-Hewitt was an injured runner who missed seeing his friends and set up parkrun to stay in touch.

“Parkrun is just part of my routine; when we go on holiday, I’ll find my nearest parkrun and it’s something we do as a family,” Dr Setchell confirms. “I had a serious skiing injury earlier this year, but as soon as I was off crutches, I went back to parkrun to volunteer. It was essential for my mental health. Partly, because it was important to feel a sense of community, but it also gave me reassurance that I would return to running. There are people in their 80s still running every week.”

Call  +44 (0)20 4580 1152 to arrange a GP appointment or book one of our comprehensive medicals at GP London W1.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the public body that provides guidance and advice to improve health and social care in the UK, has recently recommended genotype testing in stroke prevention.

Patients that have already experienced an ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) should be tested to determine whether they can be treated with a specific drug. NICE currently recommends clopidogrel to reduce the risk of a secondary stroke, but those with certain variations in a gene called CYP2C19 should be prescribed an alternative drug, which will be more effective at preventing future blood clots.

“Treatment with clopidogrel is effective in preventing further strokes for the majority of people who don’t have the gene variant. But until now doctors have not known who cannot be treated with clopidogrel until after they’ve had a second stroke or TIA and that could be too late.

“If the CYP2C19 variants are found, other treatment options can be used,” Mark Chapman, interim director of medical technology and digital evaluation at NICE, explains.

Stroke risk factors

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, causing damage to the brain which can affect how the body functions. The effect of a stroke depends on which part of the brain is damaged and how significant the damage is.

There are three different types of stroke. The most common is an ischaemic stroke which is caused by a blockage cutting off the blood supply to the brain. A haemorrhagic stroke results from bleeding in or around the brain. A transient ischaemic attack or TIA is also known as a mini-stroke. Blood supply to the brain is only temporarily interrupted, so symptoms should only last for a short period.

May is Stroke Awareness Month, as the Stroke Association aims to increase stroke awareness, stroke prevention and treatment options. It is estimated that up to 90% of strokes could be prevented through regular health checks, controlling chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension and addressing lifestyle factors such as diet, smoking and exercise.

How can we help with stroke prevention?

Anyone can develop a stroke – you’re more likely to have a stroke if you’re over 55, but one in four strokes happens to younger people. As well as your age, other factors increase your risk.

Existing medical conditions are a critical factor; high blood pressure is the single most significant risk factor for stroke. Diabetes and high cholesterol can clog up your arteries, and atrial fibrillation can lead to a clot forming in your heart.

At GP London W1, we provide high-quality, ongoing Chronic Disease Management. Closely working with the patient, we offer regular health checks, early symptom detection, and frequent medication reviews.

Investigating stroke risk at GP London W1

We offer a comprehensive assessment of your stroke risk using state-of-the-art diagnostic tests. This includes blood pressure monitoring, diabetes screening, and ECGs to check heart rate and rhythm. Imaging and diagnostic services are performed onsite at our practice, located at 25 Harley Street, part of the Phoenix Hospital Group.

Get in touch to arrange an appointment at our central London GP clinic. Call +44 (0)20 4580 1152 or email [email protected].