SOLIHULL MP JOINS FIGHT TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR PROSTATE CANCER

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 19th Mar 2007

Solihull's MP, Lorely Burt, has joined the fight to raise awareness of prostate cancer - the number one form of cancer diagnosed in men and also a major killer, with over 10,000 men a year dying from the disease.

Speaking at an event organised by the Prostate Cancer Charter for Action to mark Prostate Cancer Awareness Week, Lorely Burt MP said, "Prostate cancer has been a taboo subject for too long. As with other cancers, patients who are diagnosed earlier have a greater range of treatment options. That is why it is so important that raise awareness of this major killer. I want to encourage all men in Solihull to be aware of their prostate, what it does and what can go wrong. If they are concerned, they should be seeking help from a healthcare professional."

Symptoms of prostate cancer can include:

· Needing to urinate often, especially at night

· Difficulty in starting to urinate

· Straining to urinate or taking a long time to finish

· Pain when urinating or ejaculating

Other, less common symptoms that may be prostate cancer are:

· Pain in lower back, hips or pelvis

· Blood in the urine (this is unusual)

These symptoms may be indicative of some other condition, and not of prostate cancer. Some men with advanced cancer may have no symptoms at all. However if you are worried about any of these symptoms, you should go and see your doctor.