Darrick Robles 3 facts about prostate cancer
- At 22.7 percent, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men.
- Most cases are diagnosed in men over 50.
- The disease can be asymptomatic and can only be detected during a routine medical examination.
It’s that time of year again when men grow mustaches in support of Movember – a portmanteau of mustache and November. The Movember campaign aims to raise awareness of men’s health . The focus is on three areas: mental health , testicular cancer and prostate cancer.
We have with Med-Healths General Practitioner Dr. Rhianna McClymont talked about the facts about prostate cancer.
1. What is the prostate?
The prostate — or prostate gland — is about the size of a walnut and is located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. This gland is only found in men.
The main function of the prostate is to produce the thick, white fluid that, along with the sperm cells (sperm) from the testicles, makes up semen.
2. What are risk factors for prostate cancer?
At 22.7%, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in Germany.
In 2017, around 62,230 men in Germany were newly diagnosed with prostate cancer. Research assumes 4 possible risk factors:
Age: Most diseases are diagnosed in men over the age of 50. “The risk of developing prostate cancer increases with age,” explains Dr. McClymont.
Family predisposition: “If a close relative – such as the father or brother – has prostate cancer, and especially if the cancer was diagnosed at a younger age, i.e. before the age of 60, the risk is higher,” says dr McClymont.
Ethnicity: “Research has shown that men of African and Afro-Caribbean descent have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer.”
Obesity: Recent research suggests that obesity increases the risk of prostate cancer. Scientists reported this in the journal Cancer Medicine.
3. Prostate Cancer: Symptoms That May Occur
Prostate cancer often has no symptoms in its early stages and may require little or no treatment.
However, as the disease progresses, common symptoms may appear:
- increased urge to urinate, especially at night
- Difficulty urinating and/or poor urine flow
- a feeling that the bladder has not completely emptied
- feeling like you need to urinate urgently.
4. How is prostate cancer diagnosed?
The common examination methods for early detection are
- PSA blood test: The blood test shows the concentration of a specific protein that is produced in the prostate. It is carried out by your family doctor or a urologist.
- Digital rectal examination: In this case, “digital” means that the examination is carried out with a finger (digitus = Latin “finger”). During DRE, the doctor inserts a finger into the anus to feel the surface of the prostate as painlessly as possible. Sterile gloves and lubricant are used.
“While a PSA test can indicate prostate cancer, having an elevated PSA level does not necessarily mean prostate cancer,” explains Dr. McClymont.
As a rule, a biopsy is also carried out to clarify an elevated PSA value. Tissue samples are taken and examined in a targeted manner. A clear statement is only possible after the tissue has been removed.
5. How is prostate cancer treated?
Treatment for prostate cancer depends on the severity and extent of the cancer and the general health of the patient.
Prostate cancer can be treated in a number of ways. These include
- Operation,
- Radiotherapy,
- Hormone therapy,
- chemotherapy or
- wait-and-see.
“In the latter case, the cancer does not affect natural life expectancy. Therapy therefore aims to relieve symptoms while monitoring the cancer to ensure it does not progress,” said Dr. McClymont.
6. What side effects can occur with the treatment of prostate cancer?
“Any form of treatment has potential side effects,” she emphasizes. If surgical removal of the prostate is recommended to treat the cancer, these are important considerations. After a prostatectomy (surgical removal of the prostate), for example, many men subsequently suffer from erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence.
The wait-and-see strategy has advantages and disadvantages. The treatment has no side effects, and no regular check-ups or biopsies are required. Any pain or swelling that occurs can then be treated accordingly. However, most men do not need treatment.
However, disadvantages include the possibility of the tumor growing and/or spreading.
“Usually watchful waiting is appropriate for men with mild cancer that is not causing significant symptoms, or for men with other health conditions who would not benefit from more invasive treatments such as surgery or radiation therapy,” explains Dr. McClymont.
7. Should I go to the screening test?
Prostate cancer is a serious disease. But it is rarely fatal.
Men over 45 who are legally insured can take advantage of a palpation examination for early detection once a year . Talk to a doctor to be able to better assess whether an early detection check-up makes sense for you.
