Prostate cancer is a very major public health issue

Professor Jonathan Waxman, Prostate Cancer Charity

Over 10,000 men die from prostate cancer in the UK each year and 20,000 new cases are diagnosed annually, with rates estimated to rise by almost 50% by 2021.

However, a survey by the Institute of Cancer Research found that men knew more about breast cancer than about prostate cancer.

Experts say the problem is that men are generally ignorant about their health and tend to be embarrassed about prostate and testicular problems.

It is estimated that eight times as much money is spent on women's health than men's in the UK.

However, in 1998 more men in the UK died from cancer than women.

Screening

Professor Jonathan Waxman, founder of the Prostate Cancer Charity and a professor oncology at Imperial College, London, welcomed the new initiative.

Libel lawyer George Carman has prostate cancer

He said: "Prostate cancer is a very major public health issue, it is the second biggest killer of men among all cancers, and the number of deaths has doubled over the last 20 years."

Professor Waxman said one of the most important issues was whether or not to introduce screening for men over the age of 50.

In the UK just 1-2% of men are screened for prostate cancer, compared to 20% of men in the US.

The government is committed to extending screening for the disease - but not until the current test has been improved.

Warning signs

Professor Gordon McVie, director general of the Cancer Research Campaign, welcomed the government's announcement.

He said: "Prostate cancer has been disgracefully neglected by the NHS and government research funds - until now."

British men have a one in 12 risk of developing prostate cancer during their lives and those with a family history of the disease are particularly at risk.

Warning signs include difficulty or pain when passing urine, the need to pass urine more often, broken sleep due to increased visits to pass urine, waiting for long periods before the urine flows and the feeling that the bladder has not emptied fully.

Prostate cancer can only be cured with early intervention.

Treatment by surgery carries a 90% risk of impotence and a 20% risk of incontinence.

The risks are lower if doctors opt instead to administer radiotherapy.