Right knowledge and information about prostate cancer can be life-saving. Here are 6 things that men should know about prostate cancer
Prostate is a small walnut-shaped gland in males that produces the semen fluid and prostate cancer is a disease in which normal cells in prostate gland change and grows out of control, forming a tumour. Fortunately, in most cases prostate cancer is slow growing low-grade tumour.
Since right knowledge and information about prostate cancer can be
life-saving, here are 6 things that men should know about prostate cancer:
1. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Preetham Dev, Urologist and
Uro-oncologist at Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, shared, “Globally,
prostate cancer is one of the commonly diagnosed cancers and the third leading
cause of cancer death in men. In India there are almost 34 thousand new cases
and 16 thousand deaths from this disease every year.”
2. Initially, a person may have no symptoms of prostate cancer
According to Dr Preetham Dev, individuals with early prostate
cancer may initially have no symptoms at all but at a later stage, men may face
the following symptoms:
Dull pain in the lower pelvic area
Frequent urination
Trouble urinating, pain, burning, or weak urine flow
Blood in the urine (Hematuria)
Painful ejaculation
Pain in the lower back, hips or upper thighs
Bone pain
3. Risk factors are important to identify
Dr Preetham Dev said, “There are several modifiable and
non-modifiable factors that might affect risk of prostate cancer. Modifiable
factors can include diet, obesity, smoking, chemical exposure and sexually
transmitted infections. Long term smoking is also associated with increased
risk of prostate cancer. Non-modifiable factors include age, family history
etc. Hence, men should be aware of the risk factors and contact your doctor in
case any adverse effects seen.”
4. Risk of prostate cancer increases with age
“The risk of prostate cancer increases with age, especially after
age 50. Around 60% of prostate cancers are diagnosed in people who are 65 or
older,” Dr Preetham Dev revealed.
5. Early stage detection helps in better improved survival:
Dr Rajesh Taneja, Senior Consultant, Urology, Andrology and
Robotic Surgery, said, “Detecting prostate cancer in the early stages can have
a huge impact on the overall survival and quality of life of the patient. One
of the best ways to detect prostate cancer early is through screening by
testing for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in blood. Complimentary to
PSA testing is digital rectal examination (DRE) for detecting prostate cancer.”
6. Chemotherapy is not the only treatment option:
Dr Rajesh Taneja said, “When the cancer is limited to the
prostate, it is considered localized and potentially curable. In this stage it
is treated with surgery or radiotherapy. If the disease has spread to the bones
or elsewhere outside the prostate it is considered stage 4 cancer. This is
treated with pain medications, hormonal treatment, chemotherapy,
radiopharmaceuticals, focused radiation and other oral targeted therapies.
Outcomes depend on age, associated health problems, stage and extent of
cancer.”
He concluded, “Choose to maintain a healthy lifestyle to reduce your chance of getting cancer. Avoid alcohol or drink in moderation, eat a healthy diet, Exercise regularly, get regular checkups and talk to your doctor about cancer screening, know your family history of cancer and talk with your doctor about it, quit using tobacco. Ask your health care provider for help quitting.”
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