He prostate cancer It is the most common among men. So much so that it is estimated that more than 30,000 cases will be diagnosed this year alone.
And as with other types of cancer, regular check-ups are vital to avoid the risks associated with late diagnosis, when the disease is already in an advanced state.
However, as he indicates Dr. Fernando González-Chamorroa urologist in Madrid, only 4 out of 10 men say they go to a urology specialist once a year.
These data are far removed from the female population, where 80% do not miss their annual appointment with the gynecologist.
In addition, as the specialist points out:
-
“It is a painless cancer that does not produce symptoms until it is very advanced, and for this reason it is especially important to attend annual check-ups after the age of 50.”
And in the case of people who have a family history of the disease, “it is recommended to start from the age of 45”, since the prevalence is higher and, on many occasions, they are more aggressive.
Regarding the risk factors for , beyond family members diagnosed with the same tumor, the probability of suffering from prostate cancer also increases:
-
The obesity
-
sedentary life
-
Diets high in fat.
In 2020 alone, 35,126 new cases were diagnosed and more than 5,000 people died from this disease.
-
“If we diagnose it early, at five years, 98% of patients are alive.” Instead, if it has spread to other parts of the body, the five-year survival rate drops to 31%.
What symptoms should alert us?
According to the (AEU):
-
Difficulty urinating or a lot of pain when doing so.
-
Increased number of times you go to the bathroom to urinate.
-
incontinence problems
-
Nocturnal urine losses.
-
Blockage in the urinary tract.
-
Urinate with blood
treatment for prostate cancer
The best treatment for prostate cancer is surgery.
The prostatectomy It is an intervention to remove the prostate and the tissue that surrounds it, and it is performed “with the Da Vinci surgical system, due to the safety and few side effects it offers.”
Other treatments, such as radiation therapy, may also be used.
-
“However, when we have not been able to diagnose it on time and we can no longer apply these treatments, there are therapies that allow the patient, even if he is not cured of cancer, to live many years with a good quality of life.”
It is possible to live perfectly without a prostate because it is not a vital organ, although its removal can cause or sexual impotence
But “today, and with such advanced surgical procedures, the chances of these consequences arising are very low.”
-
The Spanish Association of Urology also emphasizes that not all tumors have to be treated. Especially if they are “labeled low or very low risk, not very aggressive and not very bulky”.
Active Surveillance Program
That yes, they must be controlled through the program they call .
But what does it consist of?
-
“The first step is to have the maximum certainty that the tumor is not very aggressive and not very extensive. To do this, medical specialists in Pathological Anatomy, after observing the prostate biopsy samples under a microscope, allow us to identify those low/very low-risk tumors,” details the AEU.
-
“From that moment is when urologists inform the patient biopsy findings and different treatment options. And if Active Surveillance is pertinent”.
-
"Radiologists, by performing rhighly specialized magnetic resonances, help us maintain rigorous control of the tumor, controlling that it does not grow excessively or change to a more aggressive appearance”.
Digital rectal examination, the ‘enemy’ of prostate cancer
This test is a medical exam that consists of the introduction of a finger through the anus to palpate the size and condition of the prostate. And although it may be surprising, it is one of the most cited arguments (according to the San Rafael Urological Group Research Foundation) for not going to the urologist.
-
“We observe that the test of the rectal examination continues to cause respect among the male populationwhen in fact it is no longer the most significant instrument for checking the prostate or other male ailments.”
how it stands out Andres de Palacio Spainalso a urologist at the same hospital:
-
“Men have a shorter life expectancy than women, about five years, but on many occasions we could delay mortality if we took measures to lead a healthier life and go more regularly to see specialists who can help us prevent and become aware of our health, such as the urologist”.
Rectal examination is painless and only lasts a few seconds.. But it is a test that, together with a blood test, allows not only to rule out prostate cancer, but also the probability of suffering from it in the future.
-
The first sign of the disease is the finding of PSA (prostate specific antigen) elevated in a blood test.
…