Prince Philip has prostate cancer?

A London newspaper, the Evening Standard, claims that the 87-year-old prince was diagnosed with prostate cancer in April when he spent three nights at the private King Edward VII Hospital in London.

The palace said it believed the front-page story was "a serious breach of Prince Philip's privacy".

"Buckingham Palace has always maintained that members of the Royal Family have a right to privacy, particularly in relation to their personal health," it said.

More about prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in men in the UK.

There is no single cause of prostate cancer: 9 percent of prostate cancers are caused by a genetic susceptibility.

Proven risk factors for prostate cancer include old age and a positive family history. Probable risk factors include a high intake of dietary fat and high levels of serum testosterone.

Early prostate cancer is often completely asymptomatic. By the time the disease becomes symptomatic it is usually beyond cure.

Prostate cancer that is confined to the gland itself can be cured by radical surgery or radiotherapy, but the benefit of cure only becomes apparent after 10 years. This paradox is due to the slow growing nature of the disease. Radical prostatectomy provides the best chance of cure but carries a high risk of complications. - (Sapa/Health24)

August 2008