Is the most common tumor among men ahead of cancer of , and urinary bladder. And according to the estimate Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM), the prostate cancer It will be one of the most diagnosed cancers this 2023 in Spain with 29,002 cases.
This Sunday, like every June 11, World Prostate Cancer Day is celebrated, a day that highlights the importance of early diagnostic.
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Most patients diagnosed with this are older than 65 years and the mean age of diagnosis is 75 years.
However, we are talking about a cancer that is painless and does not cause symptoms until it is very advanced.
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Hence, the periodic check-ups (annual from the age of 50) are vital to avoid the risks associated with late diagnosis, when the disease is already in an advanced state.
In addition, in the event that there is a family history, it is recommended to go to a consultation from the age of 45 to “catch” the disease in time.
How do you explain the Dr. Aranzazu Gonzalezmember of the:
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“The exact causes of the prostate cancer and it is thought that most occur due to several factors that interact with each other and increase the risk of developing the disease.”
What are the risk factors for prostate cancer?
- Age. The risk of suffering from prostate cancer increases from the age of 50-60 among white men. But that age range drops to 40 years in the case of black men or men with a family history.
- Race. As we have already commented, prostate cancer “is more frequent in black men and they have a worse prognosis” and “less frequent in Asian countries.”
- Family history and genetic factors. It is believed that until 10% of prostate cancer cases have a “genetic component”. Those men who have a first-degree relative diagnosed with this disease are the most likely to develop the same pathology in the future. And even from 35 years of age.
In addition, as the specialist points out, there are some clues about the risk of this disease:
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“Several genes associated with the risk of developing prostate cancer are known, highlighting BRCA2, and to a lesser extent BRCA1, which also predispose to other types of tumors (breast, ovarian,…), as well as mutations in other genes such as CHEK2, ATM , HOXB13 confer an increased risk of prostate cancer”, .
However, there are other factors that can also influence the development of prostate cancer, such as:
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Diet rich in animal fats and poor in .
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Infections and chronic inflammation such as prostatitis repeat. It is a inflammation of the prostate gland which can be caused by an infection and which causes pain or a burning sensation when urinating, frequent urination, painful ejaculation or pain in the abdomen.
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
- Interruption of the stream of urine.
- Increased frequency of urination, especially at night.
- Difficulty urinating or burning during urination.
- Presence of blood in urine/semen.
- sexual impotence.
In advanced stages of prostate cancer:
- Bone pains.
- Tiredness and weight loss.
- Leg swelling.
- Weight loss in the legs.
Can prostate cancer be avoided with a good diet?
As Dr. González points out, there are Protective factors that could prevent the development of this disease, which has a good prognosis. Approximately 85% of diagnosed patients survive more than 5 years.
One of the main factors that can keep us away from prostate cancer is .
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“He tomato and the watermelon have a high lycopene content antioxidants that help prevent DNA damage and which in some studies have been associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer,” he notes.
But, “the phytoestrogens present in the soy and others or (with and without caffeine) have also been linked to a decreased risk of prostate cancer.”
Exercise is essential especially from the age of 65. “The data linking physical activity to prostate cancer are conflicting, although it appears that patients older than 65 who engage in vigorous physical exercise are at lower risk.”
How is prostate cancer diagnosed?
Prostate cancer is a disease that can be diagnosed with a simple rectal examination in a very early state.
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“It consists of palpation of the prostate through the rectal wall in search of nodules or suspicious areas, since most tumors are initially located in the peripheral part of the gland.”
Although it is not painful at all, it can be somewhat annoying. Before a rectal examination I suspect, the next step is to perform a prostate biopsy. Prostate tissue is obtained for microscopic examination for malignancy.
However, this pathology can also be detected with a blood test called prostate specific antigen test (PSA).
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“You have to keep in mind that PSA levels can also rise simply with age, in the benign prostatic hyperplasiawith infection/inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis) or after trauma to the area (such as bladder catheterization or surgery)”