CIOB champions prostate cancer awareness 

CIOB president Paul Gandy has shared his personal experience of how prostate cancer can change lives, having lost his father, uncle and a colleague to the disease. He said the loss “brings home how fragile life can be, and how often the warning signs are missed or ignored”.

Early detection can make a significant difference – when prostate cancer is detected early, treatment is more effective.

Commenting on CIOB’s commitment to raise awareness and encourage more men in the industry to focus on their health, Gandy said: “As a professional body, our role is not just about standards, qualifications and professionalism. It is also about people. 

“We have a responsibility to care about the wellbeing of those who work in construction and the built environment.”

While there is currently no national screening programme for prostate cancer in the UK, it is important for individuals, particularly those at higher risk, to take ownership of their health.

Speaking on CIOB’s 21CC podcast, Meg Burgess, a specialist nurse at Prostate Cancer UK, said the first step for anyone who wants to be checked is to visit their GP, who might suggest a PSA test. 

“There are advantages and disadvantages to the PSA test," she explained. "It’s not as accurate as we’d like it to be, but your GP will cover those advantages and disadvantages. It’s your choice if you want to go ahead.

“Men often think that a prostate check is going to be a finger test,” Burgess added.

“That isn’t the first test, it is the PSA blood test. The rectal examination, or finger test, can be helpful for men who have got symptoms, but it’s not the necessary first step.” 

Burgess also highlighted the importance of individuals understanding their own risk of prostate cancer and not waiting for potential symptoms of the disease.

“Don’t focus on symptoms, focus on risk factors,” she said. “Very often, it’s urinary symptoms so men might notice that they’re peeing more frequently, having to get up at night to pass urine [but] but those aren’t always symptoms of prostate cancer. They can be symptoms of a benign change or enlargement of the prostate, as well as other things.”

“If you’re waiting for symptoms of prostate cancer, you risk cancer developing,” Burgess added. “Finding prostate cancer early means that it’s much easier to treat or to monitor.”

Prostate Cancer UK has created a free and confidential online risk checker that asks a small number of straightforward questions and provides clear guidance on what to do next. While the risk checker does not provide a diagnosis, it is a useful starting point.

“If you are a man working in construction, I would strongly encourage you to use it,” Gandy said. “And if you manage teams or work alongside others, encourage them to do the same. Having that conversation, whether with a colleague, a partner or a doctor, can make all the difference.”