What are the symptoms of prostate cancer as Jeremy Clarkson reveals diagnosis

Here's what you should consider

The show, aired on Amazon Prime Video, documents the trials of farming on his land in Oxfordshire.

The former Top Gear presenter had warned fans on Instagram that the latest videos would be a “difficult watch”.

“They're really, really difficult,” he said in a video posted on Tuesday evening. In the clip, Clarkson is seen revealing the news to co-stars Charlie Ireland and Kaleb Cooper.

Clarkson went on to describe the diagnosis as “aggressive” but says it's at a “really early stage”.

The programme then cuts to Clarkson in hospital, where he remarks that “some of the treatment has gone awry”.

“I'm going to be here for a little while," he says. "I don't know what's going to happen.”

He adds: “If this is all successful, I'll see you for season six. And if it isn't, I won't. Take care, everyone.”

Clarkson's recent cancer diagnosis comes two years after he underwent a heart procedure after suffering a “sudden deterioration” in his health.

How common prostate cancer is in the UK

In Britain, as there are about 55,000 new cases each year, prostate cancer remains one of the most common cancers in men.

As in most cases the harms associated with the blood test used outweigh the benefits, only a small group of high-risk men are eligible for regular screening.

Meanwhile, as part of an ongoing trial to find better ways of testing for the disease, tens of thousands more black men aged 45-74 are to be invited for checks.

What prostate cancer is and how it develops

The prostate is a gland which sits just below the urinary bladder within the pelvis, and is about the size of a walnut.

This gland surrounds the urethra, which is the tube that takes pee out of a man’s body through the penis.

The cancer in the prostate, which is an abnormal and uncontrolled cell growth, often develops slowly, and for years there may be no signs or symptoms while some people never develop any problems.

However, the cancer can be aggressive and deadly in some others.

The best chance for successful treatment occurs when the prostate cancer is detected early.

How common prostate cancer really is

In their lifetime, one in eight men will get prostate cancer, while for black men the risk doubles to one in just four.

According to Cancer Research UK, there are about 12,200 prostate cancer deaths every year.

While cases in the under-50s are rare, it is most common in men who are 75 or older.

The risk of prostate cancer is higher in those who have a close relative – a father, brother, grandfather or uncle – who has had prostate cancer.

The symptoms you should check for

The common prostate cancer symptoms to look for are:

• needing to urinate more frequently - particularly at night
• difficulty starting to urinate, weak flow and it taking a long time
• blood in urine or semen

While it is important to have any changes checked by a doctor, these symptoms can also be caused by other conditions.

If you think you are at a higher risk of prostate cancer, there is a 30-second online risk checker provided by Prostate Cancer UK.