MALES who are reluctant to seek medical advice when they feel discomfort will be targeted by health bodies across Barnsley in an effort to save countless lives - after prostate cancer was revealed to be the most common form diagnosed in men.

Barnsley Council, the town’s MPs and Barnsley Hospital are all working together to increase screening and diagnosis rates.

Research shows it’s regularly diagnosed in stages three and four, requiring more aggressive treatment and resulting in poorer outcomes.

However, figures obtained by the Chronicle show that despite more life-saving work being required, a higher number of men are being treated following a positive diagnosis, with 272 patients receiving treatment in 2025 - a 32 per cent increase on the previous year.

There are a number of key risk factors which can make you more likely to get prostate cancer, such as your age and ethnicity.

Family history is important in understanding risk, according to health bosses, as men are two-and-a-half times more likely to get it if their father or brother have been diagnosed with it.

Barnsley South MP Stephanie Peacock said: “Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in Barnsley, with cases often being diagnosed at stages three and four, requiring more aggressive treatment.

“It has been great to see Barnsley Council’s recent ‘It Might Not Be Reyt’ campaign highlighting the risks of prostate cancer, and informing people about the testing process since March 2025.

“I encourage all men over 50 in Barnsley to make sure they are aware of the symptoms and risk factors of prostate cancer, and get anything unusual checked by your GP.

“The sooner the diagnosis, the better the chance of recovery is.”

According to the NHS, prostate cancer usually develops slowly, meaning there may not be any symptoms for years.

Possible symptoms can include an increased need to urinate, straining while you urinate or feeling that your bladder has not fully emptied.

While these symptoms could be a sign of a non-cancerous problem, they should be reported to a GP.

“Anyone who’s been close to cancer knows the toll it takes on patients and their loved ones, long after the hospital visits end,” Barnsley North MP Dan Jarvis added.

“Prostate cancer hits too many men far too late.

“Early diagnosis is crucial to ensuring that people get the best treatment as soon as possible.

“The government’s forthcoming National Cancer Plan will focus on early detection and quicker treatment, so fewer families have to carry the weight cancer leaves behind.”

Dr Simon Enright said cancer risk awareness campaigns are playing a big part in a diagnoses increase.

“We are determined to improve outcomes for men with prostate cancer and we know that too many men in deprived communities are being diagnosed at a later stage when the disease is harder to treat.

“It’s vital we get the message out to men to think about their risk and to talk to their GP about a simple blood test to check.

“That way we’ll get more men with prostate cancer diagnosed earlier, and we’ll save more lives.

“We are making significant progress in Barnsley with regard to prostate cancer - in 2025, 272 patients were treated for a cancer diagnosis compared to 205 in 2024.

“If you are concerned about the risk of prostate cancer, please see a GP, particularly if you’re over 50 years old, come from an ethnic background or have a history of prostate cancer in your family.”

Anna Hartley, executive director for public health and communities at Barnsley Council, said the local authority is working alongside partners to improve outcomes and spread the message to men.

“We’re committed to making sure local people can get the right support to live longer, healthier lives, taking innovative approaches to improving health built around what we’re seeing locally.

“With data telling us that prostate cancer’s the most common cancer among men in Barnsley, typically being diagnosed late, we knew we needed to act.

“That’s why we’ve been proud to partner with Prostate Cancer UK on our ‘It Might Not Be Reyt’ campaign, emphasising how a strong genetic family link increases risk and encouraging more men to check their risk online with three simple questions.

“Rooted in local stories, we’re working with our health partners to help more men get the best possible treatment by coming forward for support sooner.”

Penistone and Stocksbridge MP Marie Tidball praised the It Might Not Be Reyt campaign.

“We know that prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men - I want to work with men across our communities, to turn stigma into understanding.

“Barnsley Council’s campaign is doing fantastic work to highlight the importance of knowing your risk, and how easy it is to check online via the Prostate Cancer UK website.

“The earlier you find prostate cancer, the easier it is to treat.

“Knowing your risk is one of the most important steps to catching and treating prostate cancer early.

“I’d encourage all men to check your risk, become aware of the signs of prostate cancer, and speak to your GP as soon as possible if you experience any symptoms.”