March 2017: Ovarian Cancer Month and Prostrate Cancer Month

Over 7,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year in the UK, and it remains the biggest killer among the gynaecological cancers – 4,100 women die from the disease each year. Why is early diagnosis important? Most women are diagnosed once the cancer has already spread which makes treatment more challenging. The current five-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is 46 per cent. If diagnosed at the earliest stage, up to 90 per cent of women would survive five years or more. This is why early diagnosis is so important. Research has shown that just 4 per cent of women in the UK are very confident about recognising a symptom of ovarian cancer.  Typical symptoms are:

• Persistent pelvic or abdominal pain (tummy and below)
• Increased abdominal size/persistent bloating – not bloating that comes and goes
• Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
• Needing to wee more urgently or more often than usual

If you have regularly experience any of these symptoms and they are not normal for you; then we recommend you visit your doctor ASAP.  It is unlikely that your symptoms are caused by a serious problem but it is important to get them checked out. Let’s Start Making Noise this Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month as early diagnosis saves lives! #StartMakingNoise Take a look at our range of incontinence products specifically designed for women with urinary and bladder issues; including the TENA Lady insert pads, Age UK Women’s insert pads and Kylie Lady Washable Briefs. Prostate Cancer Month Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and it is thought that here in the UK around 47,000 are diagnosed with this terrible disease each year.  Every hour one man dies from prostate cancer – that’s more than 11,000 men every year. 1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime and over 330,000 men are living with and after prostate cancer. What is the prostate? Only men have a prostate gland. The prostate is usually the size and shape of a walnut and grows bigger as you get older. It sits underneath the bladder and surrounds the urethra – the tube men urinate (pee) and ejaculate through. Its main job is to help make semen – the fluid that carries sperm Changes to look out for in your prostate: If you notice any changes when you urinate or have trouble controlling your bladder this could be a sign of a problem in your prostate. Urinary problems are common in older men and are not always a sign of a prostate problem. They can be caused by a urine infection or another health problem, such as diabetes, or by some medicines.

• needing to urinate more often than usual, including at night
• difficulty starting to urinate
• straining or taking a long time to finish urinating
• a weak flow when you urinate
• a feeling that you’re not emptying your bladder fully
• needing to rush to the toilet – sometimes leaking before you get there
• dribbling urine after you finish
• pain when urinating
• pain when ejaculating
• blood in your urine or semen

If you are at all concerned please contact your GP or you can call the Prostrate Specialist Nurses in confidence on 0800 074 8383.  They can arrange some simple and non-painful tests. Join us on a March for Men - and help beat prostate cancer

• Prostate Cancer UK’s March for Men is a series of walking events raising money to help stop prostate cancer being a killer.
• Throughout March; volunteers from Prostate Cancer UK will be working in your local community, giving group talks and providing information. All the volunteers have been affected by prostate cancer and know first-hand how scary and difficult it can be to deal with. If you would like to get involved or make a donation, visit the Prostrate Cancer UK website.  You can also learn how to check your prostate, and if you have any questions there is a free and confidential helpline: 0800 074 8383.

Here at Incontinence UK we recognise the problem that Prostrate Cancer can bring to men of all ages.   We provide a range of male specific incontinence products including TENA Men insert pads, Kylie Male Washable Incontinence Pants, MoliMed for Men, Lille Supreme for Men Extra and Age UK Men’s discreet incontinence pads. We at Incontinence UK have been long-time supporters of these cancer campaigns and to help we have a range of high quality incontinence products available on our website. With world known brands like TENA, Lille, Kylie and Age UK you can be sure you are safe with us. Best Wishes Incontinence UK Team www.incontinenceuk.co.uk