Every September, The Urology Foundation runs Urology Awareness Month to get the nation talking about urological health. This year’s campaign, Worth its Weight in Gold, focuses on one of the most useful and often overlooked indicators of health: urine. Its message is simple – know what is normal for you, recognise change, and seek advice when something is not right.
That message has particular resonance this year. In June, Jeremy Clarkson revealed on Clarkson’s Farm that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer which had been caught early. He subsequently underwent surgery and has since said that he is in remission. His openness has brought a disease that is often discussed too late into a very public conversation.
Mr Kaba, who has treated men with prostate disease for many years, welcomes that candour. “Stories like this matter because they make men talk. Prostate cancer can be silent in its early stages, so the absence of urinary symptoms should never create false reassurance. Awareness, appropriate assessment and an informed discussion about PSA testing can make a real difference.”
Know what to look for
Urinary symptoms are common as men get older and are most often caused by benign enlargement of the prostate rather than cancer. These can include passing urine more frequently, particularly at night, a weaker flow, difficulty starting, urgency and a feeling that the bladder has not emptied fully. Blood in the urine should always be assessed. Prostate cancer, however, often causes no symptoms at all in its early stages.
The practical message is therefore not to diagnose yourself from symptoms, but to notice change and seek appropriate advice. The Urology Foundation’s Pee Checker encourages people to know what is normal for them, look for warning signs and act when something changes.
Tailored treatment options
What happens next depends on the individual. Assessment usually begins with a careful history and examination. For men concerned about prostate cancer, an informed discussion about PSA testing is often appropriate; depending on the result and the overall risk profile, further assessment may include prostate MRI and, where indicated, biopsy. Urinary symptoms may require additional tests such as urine testing, flow measurement, bladder scanning or cystoscopy. A raised PSA does not by itself diagnose cancer: benign prostate enlargement, inflammation and other factors can also raise it.
For benign prostate enlargement, treatment should be tailored to the man rather than the scan alone. Some men are best served by lifestyle measures or medication; others benefit from a procedure when symptoms are troublesome, medication is ineffective or unwanted, or complications develop. Modern options include minimally invasive treatments such as Rezūm, as well as procedures such as Aquablation, with the choice guided by prostate anatomy and size, symptom burden, medical history and priorities such as preservation of sexual function. If prostate cancer is suspected, the pathway is different and may lead to MRI, biopsy and specialist cancer treatment. Depending on the disease, options can range from active surveillance to surgery, radiotherapy and systemic treatments.
Why acting early matters
Mr Kaba has a specialist interest in modern surgical treatment for BPH, including Aquablation therapy, and sees first-hand how a timely assessment can give patients a wider and more considered range of options.
His clinical work sits alongside a broader commitment to raising standards across the field. He supports fellow clinicians as a Boston Scientific proctor and mentor in minimally invasive BPH therapies, and teaches at Warwick Medical School. The message he wants patients to hear this Urology Awareness Month is straightforward: do not ignore a change, and do not wait for symptoms to become severe before asking for advice.
Get checked this September
If you have noticed a persistent change in your urinary symptoms, seen blood in your urine, or are concerned about your prostate health, seek medical advice. A consultation can establish what is happening, whether further investigation is needed and which treatment options – if any – are appropriate for you.
Contact Mr Kaba’s secretary to book a consultation: call us on +441926 436316 or email us at laura.quince@nuffieldhealth.com.
About the author
Mr Rahim Kaba
is a Consultant Urological Surgeon at Nuffield Health Warwickshire Hospital, with a special interest in minimally invasive BPH treatments. Rahim’s approach centres on preserving men’s quality of life, favouring advanced options like Aquablation that treat symptoms effectively while protecting sexual function.
