A TOP doctor has urged men to better understand symptoms of prostate cancer.

NHS figures show 2,700 men are living with prostate cancer across Blackburn with Darwen and East Lancashire.

Each year, about 400 men are newly diagnosed with prostate cancer in the area, while around 90 men die from the disease.

Prostate cancer is the most common in cancer men and affects one in eight, mainly aged over 50 and increases with age.

But Dr Neil Smith, a GP based at Oakenhurst Surgery, Barbara Castle Way Health Centre, in Blackburn, said many men don't understand the importance of symptoms and some choose to 'ignore them'.

He said: "The early symptoms of prostate cancer can include; difficulty starting to pee, needing to pee often especially at night, weak flow, urgently needing to go and the feeling of not completely emptying the bladder.

"The important message is if you have these new symptoms and they are persistent, get it checked out by your GP. Man up, check up”.

"Prostate cancer is becoming more common. Over 11,000 men die each year in the UK with the disease. The good news is that more men than ever are surviving longer with prostate cancer. We need to make sure that all men are aware of these symptoms and not overlook them. Early diagnosis of cancer saves lives.”

Dr Smith is a stadium doctor at Ewood Park and organised a campaign at Blackburn Rovers before the game against Blackpool on Saturday.

With the help of Macmillan Cancer Support, Cancer Research UK and Prostate Cancer UK, almost 4000 men, including staff and some of the players, received information about cancer.

The charities received a warm welcome and described Ewood Park as one of the friendliest places they have ever visited.

In 2016, The Barry Kilby Prostate Cancer appeal was set up by the former Burnley FC chairman to support initiatives to beat prostate cancer.

A number of prostate cancer screening tests have taken place, including at Turf Moor and Ewood Park.

More information about prostate cancer can be found online at http://prostatecanceruk.org/, https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/ and https://www.macmillan.org.uk