Prostate Cancer Risk Checker
Check your risk in just 30 seconds.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK. It often has no symptoms in its early stages, so understanding your risk is important.
The free online Risk Checker from Prostate Cancer UK asks a few simple questions to help you understand your risk and then explains the steps you could take if needed.
Who is at greater risk of prostate cancer?
Age
Your risk of developing prostate cancer increases as you get older, particularly if you're aged 50 or over. Prostate cancer mainly affects men aged 50 and over. However, Black men and men with a family history of prostate cancer may be at increased risk from the age of 45.
Ethnicity
Black men are at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. Around 1 in 4 Black men will develop prostate cancer during their lifetime.
Family history
You may be at greater risk if your father or brother has had prostate cancer, or if certain cancers run in your family.
What symptoms should I look out for?
Prostate cancer often causes no symptoms in its early stages.
However, some people may experience urinary symptoms, blood in the urine or semen, or persistent pain in the lower back, hips or pelvis. These symptoms are common and are often caused by conditions other than prostate cancer. However, if you notice any of these symptoms or have concerns about your prostate health, you should speak to your GP.
How does the online Risk Checker work?
Depending on your answers, the Risk Checker will provide guidance on whether you should consider speaking to your GP about your risk and whether you should have the PSA blood test.
The Risk Checker is designed to help you understand your level of risk and whether a conversation with your GP may be appropriate. Completing the Risk Checker does not mean that everyone will need a GP appointment or a PSA test.
A PSA test is a blood test that can help identify potential prostate problems. Your GP can discuss the benefits and limitations of the test with you and help you decide whether it is appropriate. A raised PSA level does not necessarily mean you have prostate cancer, and a normal PSA result does not completely rule it out. Testing can sometimes lead to further investigations or treatment that may not have been necessary.
What happens after checking your risk?
Know your risk. Know your next steps.
Depending on your answers, the Risk Checker will provide guidance on whether you should consider speaking to your GP about your risk and whether you should have the PSA blood test.
A PSA test is a blood test that can help identify potential prostate problems. Your GP can discuss the benefits and limitations of the test with you and help you decide whether it is appropriate.
If you have symptoms or concerns about your prostate health, speak to your GP, regardless of your Risk Checker result.
Don't leave it to chance.
According to Cancer Research UK, almost 100% of men diagnosed with stage 1 or stage 2 prostate cancer survive their cancer for at least five years. When cancer is still contained within the prostate, there are several effective ways to manage it, including careful monitoring, surgery and radiotherapy.
In a major UK study, around 97% of men with localised prostate cancer had not died from the disease 15 years after diagnosis.
Not everyone diagnosed with prostate cancer needs immediate treatment, but finding cancer before it spreads gives people more options for managing their condition.
Prostate cancer can develop without symptoms. Taking just 30 seconds to check your risk could be an important first step towards looking after your health.