Prostate cancer services 'vary'

Prostate cancer accounts for a quarter of cancers in men

Prostate cancer services must be improved to help tackle the wide variations in care seen across England, say health experts.

The Prostate Cancer Charter for Action found death rates from the cancer were twice as high in the London borough of Lewisham than in nearby Southwark.

The group said patients needed more encouragement to seek help earlier.

About 35,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year in the UK, and 10,000 die from the disease.

Prostate cancer sufferers report worse care, lower awareness and poorer outcomes than other patients Frank Chinegwundoh, of Prostate Cancer Charter for Action

One of the key problems is that men are often diagnosed late.

The group said there was much the government could do to tackle this and eradicate the so-called postcode lottery.

The report said men should be provided with better information about the disease, including how to recognise the symptoms, in a bid to encourage them to seek a medical opinion at an earlier stage.

The lack of awareness about the cancer was illustrated in a separate report by the Prostate Cancer Charity.

The poll of 1,000 men over the age of 45 found one in three thought it was normal to get out of bed many times a night to go to the toilet - one of the key symptoms of prostate cancer.

Staffing levels

But Prostate Cancer Charter for Action also called for an increase in the numbers of specialist nurses for the disease as staffing levels vary widely across the country.

The figures, obtained from the Office for National Statistics, highlighted particularly stark contrasts in parts of London.

Deaths from the disease in North Southwark and Bermondsey stood at 15 per 100,000 compared with 38 per 100,000 in Lewisham West.

Frank Chinegwundoh, a consultant urologist and member of Prostate Cancer Charter for Action, said: "More than any other cancer, the story of prostate cancer remains a story of inequalities.

"Prostate cancer sufferers report worse care, lower awareness and poorer outcomes than other patients."

But national cancer director Mike Richards said services had improved markedly in recent years.

He added: "We will continue to work to ensure we achieve the best possible outcomes for all men with this disease."