More than 30,000 men in the UK are living with advanced and incurable prostate cancer, according to a report.

The figure is higher than its equivalent for any of the other four most common cancers and a third greater than estimates for breast and bowel cancer, said the charity Macmillan Cancer Support.

A man with advanced prostate cancer will survive an average of four years after diagnosis, research suggests.

The majority (84 per cent) will be living with at least one other serious health condition that will further affect their quality of life.

Jane Maher, joint chief medical officer at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “It is welcome news that survival rates are improving, but as people with advanced prostate cancer are living longer with their illness, their needs now resemble those of people with other long-term conditions.

“The majority of their treatment might be over, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t need the support of the healthcare system.

“With the ongoing development of a cancer strategy for England and the imminent general election, this is the time for key decision makers to commit to prioritising cancer care and supporting people living with the disease to lead healthy and fulfilling lives after treatment.”

Bill Dodwell, 61, from Kidderminster, was diagnosed with advanced incurable prostate cancer in 2012.

He said: “When I was diagnosed the oncologist told me that I had around five years to live, which I find very hard to come to terms with.

“I intend to prove him wrong and make the most of the time I have.

“One of the most difficult things to live with is the side effects from the hormone therapy, which I am given to stop the cancer spreading any further in the body.

“I get hot flushes, suffer from fatigue, aching bones, and am now impotent without any sex drive. It’s hard to deal with all this on a daily basis without it really affecting your morale.”