King Charles III’s decision to share news about his enlarged prostate is expected to motivate more Australian men to seek testing for the condition.

January 22, 2024

King Charles’ upcoming surgery for an enlarged prostate is expected to motivate more Australian men to seek testing for the condition.

The 75-year-old monarch’s ailment, which is benign according to Buckingham Palace, has already driven a spike in checks in the UK after the news broke last week.

“The King’s decision to share his medical diagnosis is a timely reminder for men to talk about the importance of checking prostate health and taking action,” Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand vice president Damien Bolton said on Monday.

An enlarged prostate is one of the most common non-cancerous tumours found in men.

If left undiagnosed the condition can lead to bladder damage, urinary tract infections and bleeding.

The corrective procedure the King will undergo is minimally invasive and performed without any skin incisions, with about 25,000 performed each year in Australia.

Changes in urination are a common symptom, including a sudden and urgent need to urinate, straining or slow flow while urinating, or getting up multiple times in the night to urinate.

“The prostate starts to compress the urine channel and this in turn may interfere with bladder function,” Professor Bolton said.

The three most common prostate problems are infection, enlarged prostate and prostate cancer but one does not necessarily lead to another.

More than 3500 die in Australia and New Zealand annually from prostate cancer and a great many more suffer painful metastatic disease.

“It’s why it’s so important to keep up to date with your PSA tests because if we can catch prostate issues early there is greater chance of survival and reduced need for invasive treatments,” Professor Bolton said.