Like breast cancer in women, prostate cancer It is an aggressive form of cancer in men. It should be noted that prostate cancer There is a spectrum of disease, and not all men with prostate cancer require treatment. According to Dr Neeti Raizada, Director, Medical Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, Fortis Group of Hospitals, Richmond Road, Bangalore, early stage detection prostate cancer This includes the detection of both slow-growing and aggressive or fast-growing prostate cancer.
“The challenge is to reduce over-treatment of indolent cancers by biological characterization. Identification and selective treatment of aggressive cancers should result in significant reductions in morbidity and mortality, while limiting adverse effects on quality of life,” he says.
For Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, eight common things the doctor debunks Myths that men should know; read on.
Myth 1: ‘I have no symptoms, so I can’t get prostate cancer’
fact: Often, cases of prostate cancer cause minimal or no symptoms. Routine checkups are recommended for all men over the age of 45, including a DRE (digital rectal exam) and sometimes a serum PSA level, which is a tumor marker in the blood. Screening is recommended for men with a family history of prostate cancer (or even other types of cancer).
If you experience any of the following symptoms, please speak with your primary care physician:
* Increased frequency of urination
* Difficulty starting or stopping urination
* Pain or burning urination
* Difficulty getting an erection/painful ejaculation
, blood in urine or semen
* Unexplained weight loss or decreased energy levels
Myth 2: ‘Nobody in my family has had cancer, how can I?’
fact: Often, there is no family history of cancer when someone is diagnosed. Only in 10-20% of cases someone in the family will have prostate or other cancer. Prostate cancer is a common cancer, but also remarkably treatable.
“In recent years, there have been several new biological treatments that work well with some of the mutations noted with hereditary cancers, including prostate,” says Dr.
Myth 3: Surgery is the only cure for prostate cancer
fact: “When someone is diagnosed, first we stage the patient with a few scans and then based on the stage information, a treatment plan is made after taking inputs from all the sub-specialties in oncology. Is. This plan may include surgery, radiation, hormonal therapy, chemotherapy or biologic therapy.
Myth 4: ‘Prostate cancer will destroy my sex life and cause impotence’
fact: Some types of treatment can inhibiting sexual activityBut that doesn’t happen often.
Myth 5: Treatment can cause incontinence/urine dribbling
fact: Some types of procedures can cause incontinence as a side effect. But often modalities are chosen that do not cause incontinence.
Myth 6: Only elderly men get prostate cancer
fact: Age is often the most common risk factor for all cancers. Prostate cancer can also occur in the younger population. Often, people with hereditary syndromes and a strong family history should be screened early. “Some ancestry, such as African-Americans, should be evaluated from an early age. Younger patients with cancer may also have a more aggressive course, and therefore need to be identified at the right time,” says Dr. Raizada.
Myth 7: High PSA Means Prostate Cancer
fact: This is not always true. An infected or inflamed prostate can also raise PSA values. Serum PSA is an indicator if further testing is needed to confirm prostate cancer. It is also important to see whether the PSA number rises or falls over time. If growing, it could be a sign of a problem. In addition, in a patient who is being treated for prostate cancer, doctors use serum PSA values to monitor response to treatment.
Myth 8: If you have prostate cancer, you will die from the disease
fact: false. Often, patients with localized prostate cancer do very well on treatment. A subset of patients may require observation alone and no active treatment. Others respond based on stage, tumor characteristics, and treatment. The key here is the right diagnosis at the right time.
I Follow us for more lifestyle news Instagram | Twitter , Facebook and don’t miss the latest updates!
