Health experts will gather in Bristol this weekend to discuss the latest research and treatments for the most common cancer in men.

Prostate cancer affects almost as many men as breast cancer affects women and doctors, surgeons and other key speakers want to raise awareness of the disease.

It will be a chance for patients and their loved ones to learn more about the latest developments in diagnosing and treating prostate cancer and find out more about work being done in the city to improve detection of the disease.

The event has been organised by the University of the West of England (UWE) and the Bristol Urological Unit, which are working together on projects that may lead to faster and easier diagnosis and treatment in the future.

Among the experts who will be at the Frenchay campus on Saturday is Dr Anthony Rhodes, a reader in cellular pathology at UWE, who is researching a way of testing whether men will have an aggressive version of the disease that will need treatment or a less serious form that can just be monitored.

He said: "Despite the fact around 35,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, with around a third of these dying from the disease, there is not enough noise made to ensure men are adequately informed about the symptoms and the importance of screening.

"To put this into context 44,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year with more than 12,000 deaths annually, making prostate cancer the second most prevalent form of the disease."

A possible gene that could be a sign of more aggressive forms has been found and Dr Rhodes and his team will be studying tumours and whether or not the patients survived to test the theory.

He said: "The research we are trying to do is to find a marker that will identify between the aggressive types, which will require aggressive treatment such as removal of the prostate, chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

"There is important work happening here in Bristol in awareness-raising campaigns and research.

"This event aims to clarify the many aspects surrounding diagnosis and treatment and to highlight the facilities and support available.

"We also want to tell people about local research to help improve the lives of men who are diagnosed."

The work, along with a study attempting to come up with a urine test to diagnose prostate cancer, has been funded with the help of money raised through the annual Run for the Future event in the city.

Already more than £130,000 has been raised through the 5km run on the Downs, organised by Bristol Rotarians, and families and individuals are being encouraged to sign up this year so more work can be carried out.

Run for the Future will also benefit from sales of a device to help men identify prostate problems at home.

Company MDTI has a product called the Uflow, which measures the amount or urine men pass.

If there is a prostate problem, the flow of urine may be reduced and this can be picked up by the device.

The Uflow will be on sale at Saturday's event for a reduced price of £5, with money going to BUI research.

Tickets for the event at UWE are £5 on a first-come, first-served basis.