ore than half of men in London experience urinary incontinence, a report has found, as charities warned that many are left to “suffer in silence” due to the taboo of discussing symptoms.
A survey conducted by Prostate Cancer UK and the PHS group found that 54 per cent of male Londoners of all ages had experienced symptoms of urinary incontinence.
Over one in four men (28 per cent) experience symptoms as early as 18-25 years of age, contradicting the widely held view that it only affects older adults.
And less than a third (29 per cent) of Londoners know that prostate cancer can cause urinary incontinence in men, despite the fact that six in ten men who have their prostate removed may experience it.
One in eight men will get prostate cancer over the course of their lives, rising to one in four for black men.
Each year in England, more than 47,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than 10,000 die from it – the equivalent of one man every hour.
In London, more than 4,200 men were diagnosed with the disease last year.
Errol Mckellar, 65, from Brent, set up a support group for men living with and after prostate cancer after being diagnosed himself.
He said: “We need to look at how we can educate men and raise awareness of incontinence. If we can help men overcome that embarrassment, I think it would make a huge difference to how men seek treatment, but how they can live better lives too.”
Nearly eight in ten (79 per cent) felt anxious about leaving the house as a result of their symptoms, the report found.
Nick Ridgman, head of health information and clinical support at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “Incontinence affects hundreds of thousands of men across the country and is a frequent side effect of treatment for the most common cancer in men.
“Yet the research released on Wednesday showcases a woeful lack of understanding and conversation that is impacting men’s mental and physical health, and has resulted in men not having the facilities they need to live life to the full.”
The “Dispose with Dignity” campaign will seek tackle the “taboo” of incontinence, he said, and ensure that “political decision-makers hear the voices of men across the country who want change”.
Prostate Cancer UK and the phs Group have designed a male incontinence bin to help men experiencing symptoms, with several companies already pledging to provide them to customers and staff.
Moto service stations have already signed up to receive the bins.
A total of 2,036 men across all age groups responded to the survey.
