Statistically, 23 Pompey supporters are missing from Fratton Park each year when they lose their lives from cancer.

Facts about cancer

Prostate Cancer

• Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. It is responsible for 25% of newly diagnosed cases of cancer in England and Wales.
• The chances of developing prostate cancer increase as you get older. Most cases develop in men aged 65 or older.
• For reasons that are not understood, prostate cancer is more common in men who are of Afro-Caribbean or African descent and less common in men of Asian descent.
• The causes of prostate cancer are largely unknown.
• The outlook for prostate cancer is generally good despite it being relatively challenging to treat. This is because, unlike many other cancers, prostate cancer usually progresses very slowly. It can take up to 15 years for the cancer to spread from the prostate to other parts of the body (metastasis), typically the bones. In many cases, prostate cancer won't affect a man's natural life span.
• Once the cancer has spread to the bones it can't be cured, and treatment is focused on prolonging life and relieving symptoms. Approximately 9,000 men die from prostate cancer every year in England and Wales.
• Prostate cancer can be cured when treated in its early stages. Treatments include removing the prostate, hormone therapy and radiotherapy (using radiation to kill the cancerous cells).

Men who have died from prostate cancer include:

• Bill Bixby, actor
• Timothy Leary
• Bob Monkhouse
• Jerry Orbach, actor
• Telly Savalas
• Frank Zappa, musician

Men who have had prostate cancer and been successfully treated include:

• Harry Belafonte
• James Brown
• Robert De Niro
• Nelson Mandela
• Roger Moore

Lung Cancer

• Cancer that begins in the lungs is known as primary lung cancer. Cancer that begins in another part of the body before spreading to the lungs is known as secondary lung cancer.
• Lung cancer is primarily a disease that affects older people. Cases are rare in people who are under 40 years of age, but the rates of lung cancer rise sharply with age. The most common age range that lung cancer is diagnosed is between 70-74 years of age.
• Smoking is the single biggest risk factor for lung cancer, accounting for an estimated 85-90% of cases. People who smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day are 20 times more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smokers.
• Statistics show that only 25% of people with lung cancer will survive for at least a year after receiving a diagnosis, and just 7% will survive for at least five years.
• Lung cancer does not usually cause any noticeable symptoms until it has spread through much of the lungs and/or into other parts of the body. This is known as advanced, or metastatic, lung cancer. Therefore, the outlook for lung cancer is poor in comparison to other types of cancer.

Men who have died from lung cancer include:

• Nat “King” Cole
• Gary Cooper
• Walt Disney
• Yul Brynner
• John Wayne

Bowel Cancer

• More than eight out of ten bowel cancers are diagnosed in people over the age of 60. The risk of bowel cancer increases with age and 97% of people diagnosed are over 50, but bowel cancer can take years to develop.
• Bowel cancer affects the lower part of your digestive system, the colon (colon or large bowel cancer) and the rectum (rectal cancer). For many people, the risk of bowel cancer can be reduced with lifestyle changes.
• About two-thirds of bowel cancers develop in the colon and a third in the rectum. Most cancers develop from small growths in the bowel wall called polyps (adenomas), which are usually harmless but can turn cancerous. Polyps can usually be removed easily if caught early.
• Around one in 20 people will get bowel cancer at some point in their life. Of those who get the disease, nine out of 10 will survive if it is caught early. Every year, around 36,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK.
• Colon cancer affects men and women equally. However, men tend to get it at a younger age. It is the third most common type of cancer in men, and the second most common type in women.

Men who have died from bowel, colon or rectal cancer include:

• Pope John Paul II
• Jack Lemmon
• Charles Schulz, creator of 'Peanuts,' died 60 days after diagnosis
• Bobby Moore
• Harold Pinter

Men who have been successfully treated for bowel, colon or rectal cancer include:

• Terry Jones, Monty Python
• Ronald Reagan
• Miguel Ferrer, actor

Signs and Symptoms

Spot the signs: symptoms of the three most common cancers in men over 55

Keep the odds in your favour, seeing your GP early is your best bet for surviving cancer!

If you have any of these symptoms, especially if they have lasted for four weeks or more, you should go and see your doctor. Please remember that most of these symptoms will not be cancer.

If you have any more questions, no matter how small, speak to your GP or call NHS direct on 0845 46 47 or visit www.nhs.uk

Services
Find the service to improve your odds of being ahead of the game.

Your local pharmacy
Pharmacies can offer health and lifestyle advice including support for stopping smoking. Some also offer screening.

Stop Smoking service
www.pompeyquit.com
02392 369234

• One to one or group support

Solutions4health
0800 634 9139

• One to one or group support, including outside normal working hours

The NHS Smoking Helpline can offer advice and encouragement to help you quit smoking. 0800 022 4 332 or visit the NHS Go Smokefree website.

Alcohol Intervention Team
02392 841753
Email AIT@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Support and practical advice and information about safe drinking