Prostate Cancer: What you need to know

Prostate cancer is one of the routine checkups that a man must undertake in life. These checkups should start at the age of 50 or even 45 if there is a family history of the disease. Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer among men worldwide, and mainly affects those aged 65 and above. Early detection through regular screening can significantly enhance chances of successful treatment and survival. This gland, located beneath the bladder, is important to male reproductive system; it produces seminal fluid that provides nourishment for and transports sperms. Older men are more prone to developing prostate cancer hence making regular check-ups essential for early detection and effective care management. How would you know if you have prostate cancer? The following information will be useful to you, your family members and friends.
Prostate Cancer like other types of cancers is a serious condition which could be fatal as well. It impacts about every one in seven men across globe thus becoming an issue of concern as far as health matters are concerned. Despite its predominance among adults aged over 60 years, it can also occur among younger men between ages 35-45. The good news about this disease lies in its curability when identified early enough; therefore, one should familiarize with warning signs along with risk factors involved in having it.
A common indicator to recognize prostate cancer is physical discomfort around the pelvic area, which is where the male reproductive system lies. It could be in the form of painful urination, decreased force in the urine stream, erectile dysfunction, or blood in urine. These symptoms are more common at the early stages depending on where the tumour is located and how big it is. At later stages, the tumour can be spread to other parts of the body. The signs of later stages of prostate cancer include swelling of the legs or pelvic region, numbness in the Hips and feet, and possibly brittle bones which may lead to fracture.

What can one do to recognise prostate cancer? The first step is to recognise the symptoms. It is important to also consult medical professionals to avoid misdiagnosis and to understand the risk factors, that is through regular screening and knowing the signs and symptoms of the disease, which can help to remove tumour cells at the early stages. Since prostate cancer is more advanced, rare and complex compared to older men, the medical treatment can be varied depending on the age, the size of the tumour cell and the overall health of the individual.

If you do recognise prostate cancer at the early stages, the prostate can be treatable depending on how big the tumour cell is and how fast it spreads. Depending on these conditions, the treatment can be varied and can be worked with various medical professionals in different fields like urologists and oncologists. Most commonly surgery is done such as Robotic Nerve Preserving / Sparing Radical prostatectomy which can eliminate the cancer cells before they get spread. Unfortunately, the treatment has its side effects. These include erectile dysfunction and infertility. It is important to consult your medical professional if you are experiencing any of these side effects.
BRCA2 genetic testing can be an important tool for prostate cancer patients, as mutations in this gene significantly increase the risk of developing the disease. Screening for prostate cancer typically includes an annual blood test measuring Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) levels, which is crucial for early detection and successful management of the disease.
Unfortunately, there is no known way of reducing the possibility of suffering from prostate cancer. Nevertheless, it is possible to consider that a healthy lifestyle can stop tumor cells from developing in the body such as eating low-fat diets, increasing intake of green leafy vegetables and fresh fruits and decreasing daily dairy/fat consumption.

What kind of treatment for prostate cancer depends on its aggressiveness and stage? Surgery Robotic Nerve Preserving / Sparing Radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy are among the common methods used. The aim surgery for this cancer is removing the prostate that has been affected by cancer while radiation therapy employs high-energy rays to kill these cells. Hormone therapy aims at reducing levels of male hormones that can fuel growth of the cancer. If surgery is done in very elderly aged people, then some degree of urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction is reported.
Prostate cancer can be dangerous especially if it is not detected and treated early enough. In summary, Prostate cancer is a serious but manageable disease. It requires understanding risk factors, identifying symptoms and having regular screenings against it. Healthy lifestyles also reduce chances for contracting this ailment hence improving prognosis among those diagnosed with it.


(Article Courtesy: Prof. Dr. Somashekhar S P, Chairman - Medical Advisory Board, Aster DM Healthcare - GCC & India, Global Director - Aster International Institute of Oncology - GCC & India, Lead Consultant - Surgical & Gynaecological Oncology & Robotic Surgeon, HIPEC & PIPAC Super-specialist)


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