10 facts about prostate cancer that every man should know

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. It is necessary that we obtain our correct facts about this cancer and demystify few myths. Many people consider prostate health as acquired and that is why prostate cancer goes unnoticed in many men and is often diagnosed when it is too late. The awareness of this cancer is too low in our country and it is one of the reasons why many people miss the timely diagnosis and also suffer from metastases. Prostate cancer, however, is likely to be treated when diagnosed early. So, here we present some facts about cancer that every man should know.

1. As a man gets older, the risk of developing prostate cancer also increases exponentially. It is a fact with which all men must live. In fact, many autopsy studies have shown that if a man lives long enough, he will eventually develop this cancer.
2. Many people confuse prostate cancer with an enlarged prostate. An enlarged prostate can be a sign of prostate cancer, but not all men with prostate enlargement may have prostate cancer. The size of the prostate increases slowly, but slowly, as the man ages, usually after age 60. This hypertrophy of the prostate exerts pressure on the urethra, resulting in urination problems. However, in India, three out of ten men develop prostate cancer. In fact, most prostate cancers are detected when men present to their doctors the symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
3. Prostate cancer is asymptomatic and most men have no symptoms.
4. Men with a family history of prostate cancer are twice as likely to develop this cancer as men who have no family history of this cancer.
5. Many people believe that prostate cancer is a slow-growing cancer and has no impact on human life, even in case of cancer. However, it is a myth. There are different types of prostate cancer: slow-growing and aggressive cancers. The aggressive could be deadly. Both types of cancer are asymptomatic, so prostate cancer is called a silent killer.
6. Prostate cancer is highly treatable and there is a better chance of survival if it is detected at an early stage. This is why regular screening for prostate cancer becomes necessary. A basic PSA test (blood test) can greatly help predict prostate cancer. Even rectal exams can help detect this cancer quickly.
7. A PSA level above 4 ng / ml could make your doctor suspect. However, the PSA could also become high due to an infection. So be careful when interpreting PSA reports. It is best to ask for a second or third opinion when your PSA levels are high or to take another PSA test to rule out the possibility of an infection. Most doctors avoid making a biopsy just after seeing high PSA ratios, as this could lead to complications such as bleeding or infection and would like to wait for a second PSA test.
8. However, regular screening is the only way to quickly detect cancer and get treated to avoid complications.
9. Prostate cancer is treated by surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. In some cases, even hormone replacement therapy is suggested. Treatment depends on the severity of the disease and is planned by a uro-oncologist accordingly.
10. To be safer, all men must be screened regularly. Get tested every year for the condition of your prostate.

Posted: 17 September 2018