Potential biomarkers for the early detection of bone metastases
5 Early Signs Of Prostate Cancer Men Should Not Ignore By Urologist
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting older men globally, including in Indian population. Increased awareness, annual health checks and widespread screening could explain the rise in the number of cases in recent times. Screening helps to detect cancers at an early stage, that is when the cancer is likely to be easier to treat with a potential for complete cure.
Often, prostate cancer is asymptomatic and the diagnosis is incidental. The possible existence of prostate cancer is picked up through blood Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) levels. PSA blood test is prostate gland specific, but not prostate cancer specific. This means, PSA levels could be elevated in conditions affecting prostate gland but not prostate cancer.
Story continues below Advertisement
So, the question that needs to be addressed is, how to diagnose early? To understand the same, Dr Raghavendra Kulkarni, Consultant Urologist, Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology Secunderabad lists down to Moneycontrol various ways in which prostate cancer could manifest.
Also Read: Joe Biden's prostate cancer diagnosis shouldn't make men panic, here are 5 reasons for hope
Prostate cancer could present symptoms secondary to an enlarged prostate, like:
Some of the atypical lower urinary tract symptoms that could also be seen in prostate cancer include:
Also Read: Prostate cancer: Google doesn't have all the answers, 5 strong reasons you should get screened
Is PSA testing routinely required?
Story continues below Advertisement
Routine PSA screening in urban areas has become a commoner. It is either ordered by the treating Physician / Urologist. But we have to understand the nuances, PSA testing comes with its own merits & demerits, namely, significant false-positive results – meaning, absence of cancer even if the PSA levels are abnormal. It is also associated with false-negatives – meaning, presence of cancer with normal PSA levels.
Detecting prostate cancer at an early stage might seem to make sense, but, due to the slow growing nature of prostate cancer, it is said that prostate cancer would not cause any major problem during a man's lifetime in large majority. With technological advances in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, the concept of, do nothing, doesn't hold relevance in the current era.
Who should undergo routine PSA testing and how frequently?
Yearly PSA check is the common recommendation. Some set of patients in whom annual PSA checks is mandatory, include:
1. What is prostate cancer?Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the prostate gland of men, often affecting older men.
2. How is prostate cancer detected?Prostate cancer is often detected through blood Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) levels, though it can also be identified incidentally.
3. What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?Common symptoms include frequent urination, urgency, night-time urination, poor urinary flow, intermittent flow, trouble initiating the flow, and straining to urinate. Advanced stages may include dull pelvic pain, haematuria, painful ejaculation, bone pain, and loss of appetite/weight.
4. Who should undergo PSA testing?Men aged 45-69, men with a family history of prostate cancer, and men with lower urinary tract symptoms should undergo routine PSA testing.
5. Is PSA testing always accurate?PSA testing has its limitations with both false-positive and false-negative results, meaning it is not always accurate in detecting prostate cancer.
Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don't treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis.
Nivedita is a Delhi-based journalist who writes on health, fashion, lifestyle and entertainment. Views expressed are personal.
Prostate Cancer: Take Steps For Early Detection
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men, especially those older than 50. The health department encourages all men to learn the facts, understand the risks and take steps for early detection.
The prostate is a small gland located below the bladder and in front of the rectum. Its role is to produce fluid that helps carry sperm. As men grow older, the chances of changes in the prostate increase. Some of these changes can lead to prostate cancer.
Several factors may raise the risk of prostate cancer. Age is one of the greatest factors, as most cases are diagnosed in men over 65. Family history also plays a strong role. Men with a father, brother or son who has had prostate cancer face a higher risk. Race is another factor, with African American men more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age and with more serious cases.
Prostate cancer often does not show symptoms in its early stages, which makes screening important. A simple blood test, known as the PSA test, along with a digital rectal exam, can help detect problems early. When prostate cancer is found early, treatment is often more successful.
Possible warning signs can include difficulty urinating, weak or interrupted urine flow, blood in the urine or semen, or ongoing pain in the back, hips or pelvis. These symptoms also may be caused by other health issues, but it is always safest to speak with a doctor. Treatment options vary depending on age, overall health, and how advanced the cancer is. Choices may include careful monitoring, surgery, radiation, or medication. Health care providers work with patients to decide which treatment plan is best.
Living a healthy lifestyle also can support prostate health. Eating fruits and vegetables, staying active, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding tobacco are all positive steps.
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and the Health Department reminds residents that awareness and regular check-ups save lives. Men are encouraged to speak with their health care providers about screening and their personal risk factors. By working together as a community to raise awareness, we can help protect the health and well-being of men and their families.
For information about services and programs available to you through Carson City Health and Human Services, visit gethealthycarsoncity.Org, or call 775-887-2195. You can visit the CCHHS office at 900 E. Long St. In Carson City or follow CCHHS on Facebook at facebook.Com/cchhs, or Instagram at GetHealthyCarsonCity.
Does Joe Biden's Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Have You Concerned About Your Own Health?
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
FORMER PRESIDENT JOSEPH R. Biden has been diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer, his office announced The cancer has spread to his bones, as it commonly does in more aggressive forms.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. About one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, and an estimated 288,300 new cases will emerge this year, according to the American Cancer Society. It's more common in Black men and in all men over 65.
It is generally slow-growing, and one of the big challenges with this cancer is that there are really no symptoms, especially early on, according to the American Cancer Society. By the time you do see symptoms, the cancer has likely reached an advanced stage.
However, there is a screening test for it. When this is done and prostate cancer is caught early, it is often highly treatable, says Daniel Spratt, M.D., a prostate cancer management expert and a professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
Protect yourself against this common disease by getting screened (see the recommendations for when below) and learning to identify the common signs. Here's how.
The 10 Most Common Signs of Prostate Cancer"PROSTATE CANCER IS one of those conditions that could easily be caught early," says John Lynam, D.O., an osteopathic physician in Florida who specializes in urology. "Because of screening and testing, it has a high cure rate once caught early."
This is especially important because there are no real early signs of prostate cancer, he says.
"Once prostate cancer causes symptoms, it is usually advanced and is often not curable at that point," says Jonathan Shoag, M.D., a urologist and member of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center Population and Cancer Prevention Program at Case Western Reserve University.
If there are warning signs of prostate cancer, they can include:
Blood in the urine or semen
Problems urinating—including feeling like you need to urinate more often or a slow or weak stream
Loss of bladder or bowel control
Pain in hips, back, ribs, or other areas
Weakness or numbness in the legs or feet
Unintentional weight loss
"Prostate cancer tends to spread to the bones, which can be painful, cause fractures, and limit mobility," Dr. Shoag says.
Any time you notice any of these symptoms, visit your primary care doctor as soon as you can to get screened for prostate cancer, Dr. Lynam suggests.
Dr. Spratt says many prostate or urinary symptoms often have nothing to do with prostate cancer. So it's important to rule out other potential health issues.
When should you get screened for prostate cancer?INSTEAD OF WATCHING for signs of prostate cancer, which means it's reached an advanced stage, Dr. Lynam suggests getting regular screenings to catch it early.
"The hope is catching the cancer when it is still asymptomatic and relatively easy to treat," Dr. Shoag explains.
Following the American Urological Association guidelines, all men should be screened for prostate cancer once they turn 50, says Larry Lipshultz, M.D., a urology professor at the Baylor College of Medicine and Men's Health urology adviser.
For men at a higher risk for prostate cancer, screening is recommended between ages 40 and 45. Those groups include Black men, people with a family history of the cancer, and those with a genetic predisposition, such as having the BRCA gene, Dr. Lipshultz says.
Screening involves getting a prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, blood test and a prostate exam, he says.
You should get re-screened every two to four years, according to AUA.
What does prostate cancer screening involve?PROSTATE CANCER SCREENING typically involves two tests, Dr. Spratt says.
One is a digital rectal exam, where doctors feel the prostate gland for abnormalities. "It's a quick and painless procedure," he adds.
The other is a PSA blood test, which measures the amount of a protein that's produced by cancerous and noncancerous cells in the prostate. "Elevated PSA levels can be an indicator of prostate issues, including cancer," Dr. Spratt.
Men without prostate cancer typically have PSA levels of under 4 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL), according to the American Cancer Society. PSA levels between 4 and 10 suggest you could have about a 25 percent chance of prostate cancer, and levels over 10 signal that your chance of having the cancer is more than 50 percent.
Some have argued that a PSA test alone is enough to diagnose prostate cancer, Dr. Lipshultz says, but both are needed.
"You see somebody who has a normal PSA, and you do a prostate exam, and there's cancer everywhere because it's so undifferentiated that it doesn't make the PSA," he explains.
Undifferentiated cancer cells typically don't look or behave like the normal cells in tissues where they develop and may not produce much PSA.
Prostate cancer is one of the most curable diseases when caught early, Dr. Lynam says. In some cases, lower-grade prostate cancers can sometimes be safely monitored by your doctor without needing intervention.
"The most important message I can tell patients is to know your family history and get regular prostate cancer screening and checkups," he says. "We are serious when we say early detection can save your life."
You Might Also Like
Comments
Post a Comment