The 7 signs of prostate cancer you need to know – after Jimmy Tarbuck vows to beat the disease

JIMMY Tarbuck bravely revealed today that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

The legendary comic, 80, opened up about his battle with the disease on Good Morning Britain and said he was going to “try and beat it”.

Jimmy also urged men not to be “shy” and to get tested for prostate cancer, which is the most common cancer in men in the UK.

He said: “All men out there watching, and all wives, get your husbands to go for the tests. I think after 50, just have a test, let them have a look at you.

“You will be relieved and be with your families for extra years.”

Just last month, it was revealed prostate cancer had overtaken breast cancer as the most commonly diagnosed cancer in England.

Caught an earlier stage increases the chances of beating it – which is why it’s vital to know the early warning signs…

The signs of prostate cancer

Most men with early prostate cancer won’t notice any symptoms. That’s because the disease tends to grow in a part of the prostate that’s away from the urethra.

It’s only when the cancer is big enough to press on the tube that men tend to notice symptoms, including…

1. Trouble starting to pee
2. Difficulty emptying your bladder
3. A slow flow when you pee
4. A feeling that your bladder hasn’t emptied properly
5.  Dribbling after you finish peeing
6. Needing to pee more, especially at night
7. A sudden need to pee, sometimes leaking before getting to the loo

If prostate cancer breaks out of the gland and invades other parts of the body, it can cause other symptoms, including:

• Back, hip or pelvis pain
• Problems getting or keeping an erection
• Blood in the urine or semen
• Unexplained weight loss

These symptoms can all be caused by other health problems, but it’s still a good idea to tell your GP about any symptoms so they can find out what’s causing them and make sure you get the right treatment, if you need it.

It’s also useful to know the key risk factors – Orchid’s F.A.C.E. up to prostate cancer campaign is aimed at helping people remember…

Family history – having a brother or father with prostate cancer may double a man’s risk compared to men with no family history of the disease.

Age – the older a man gets the greater the risk, with prostate cancer most commonly affecting men over the age of 50.

Change in urinary habits – changes in urinary habits are not always a sign of prostate cancer but they can be a symptom.

Ethnicity – black African and black Caribbean men are at double the risk of developing prostate cancer than other men and may develop the disease earlier too, most commonly affecting men from this group over 45.

The NHS has credited celebrities including Jimmy for opening up about their prostate cancer diagnosis.

Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer said: “It is so helpful that celebrities like Rod Stewart and Jimmy Tarbuck have been brave enough to speak out about their diagnosis  – there is no doubt that they are helping us in the NHS to fight against prostate cancer.

“It is vital that men come forward for checks when they sense something isn’t right, and the NHS Long Term Plan is prioritising action to detect and treat more cancers earlier when the chance of survival is best.”

It comes after former BBC news presenter Bill Turnbull and TV star Stephen Fry also spoke out about their own experiences with prostate cancer.