There’s been an increase in men looking to get prostate checks since King Charles announced he needed prostate surgery last week in a spike experts have called the “King Charles Effect.”
King Charles announced on January 18 that he was undergoing prostate surgery after the discovery of a benign growth.
Since then, experts say they have seen a spike in men making appointments for checks, as well as a surge of Google searches for “Prostate checks.”
“We’re seeing more interest from men generally…For a long time men have been reluctant to speak about it,” Urological Society of Australia & NZ Vice President Damien Bolton said.
The condition, which puts pressure on the urinary tract affecting bladder function, impacts 50 per cent of men between 50 and 60 years old, and over 90 per cent of men over 80 years old.
It’s not cancerous, but over 25,000 men undergo minimally invasive surgery each year in Australia to treat the problem.
Although an enlarged prostate does not increase the risk of cancer, regular check ups will help with the early detection of prostate cancer.
Prostate patient Jeff Roberts applauded King Charles for being open about the condition, saying regular prostate checks Were critical to men’s health.
“(It’s) very important to make people aware of that,” Roberts said.
“You sometimes have a tendency to disregard the warning signs.”
Experts say the situation acts as a reminder to stay up to date with screening, as prostate cancer affects thousands of men every year.
Regular PSA blood tests are recommended for men over 50, or earlier for anyone with a family history of prostate cancer.
