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The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
All you need to know about: prostate cancer
Former United States president Joe Biden was diagnosed with prostate cancer last week, with his office announcing that it was an 'aggressive' form of the disease, as cancer cells had spread to the bone. His office however, also said that the cancer appeared to be hormone-sensitive which 'allows for effective management' and that the president and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.' Many political leaders, including current U.S. President Donal Trump sent Mr. Biden wishes for his recovery. What is prostate cancer? Prostate cancer is a cancer that develops in the prostate gland, which is part of the male reproductive system. The prostate gland is about the size of a walnut but tends to grows with age. It is located just below the bladder, in front of the rectum. The main job of the prostate gland is to produce a fluid that becomes part of the semen. Prostate cancer is a common cancer: according to 'The Lancet Commission on prostate cancer: planning for the surge in cases', 2024, prostate cancer is the most common cancer by incidence in men in 112 countries (as of 2020), and accounts for one in every 14 cancers diagnosed globally, and 15% of all male cancers. Among men, the disease ranks second only to lung cancer in terms of cancer mortality. In the United States, it is second only to skin cancer among men, while in India, it is third-most common cancer among men as of 2022. What are the risk factors of prostate cancer? Risk factors for prostate cancer include: age -- as men grow older, their risk of getting prostate cancer increases; family history -- men who have had a close family member with prostate cancer have an increased chance of getting it; obesity -- studies have linked being overweight to having a greater chance of getting prostate cancer. Other risk factors include ethnicity as African American men are at greater risk. What are the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer? In the early stages, prostate cancer may not always cause symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they may include: a frequent need to urinate, trouble passing urine or a weak flow or pain and burning while urinating, blood in the urine (making it look pink or red), blood in the semen, pain in the lower back, hips or thighs and painful ejaculation. Severity of symptoms may depend on where the cancer is located and how advanced it is. Changes in urinary functions could also be symptoms of a common condition, an enlarged prostate -- it is important to consult a doctor for the right diagnosis. What are the stages of prostate cancer? Healthcare providers may use a scale known as the Gleason score to determine how serious the cancer is. Under the Gleason score, the more abnormal cells you have, the higher your score. These scores range from 2 to 10. A score of below of 5 is not considered cancer. Scores from 6 to 10 are considered cancer -- with 6 being a slow-growing cancer and 10 being a fast-growing cancer. The cancer is also staged. In the early stages (stages 1 and 2), the cancer is localised and has not spread beyond the prostate. In the locally advanced stage or stage 3, it has spread outside the prostate but only to nearby tissue and structures. In the advanced or metastasised stage or stage 4, it has spread to other parts, possibly lymph nodes, bones, liver, lungs or other organs. What is the treatment for prostate cancer? Treatment depends on several factors including age and overall health condition, the stage and grade of the cancer and its spread. Early-stage cancers can have a good outcome with treatment. One treatment option for small and slow-growing cancers may be active surveillance, where the patients gets screened and tested regularly to monitor the cancer grow. If tests show that the cancer is growing, then other treatment options may be considered. Other treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy and systemic therapies. Surgery, known as prostatectomy, is the removal of the prostate gland. It may be used when the cancer is just in the prostate gland and has not spread. Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to kills the cancer. It may be offered in combination with other treatments as well. Systemic therapies can include hormone therapy, which involves using medication to stop the hormone testosterone from boosting cancer cell growth. Chemotherapy uses medication to destroy cancer cancer. In immunotherapy, medicines are used to strengthen the immune system to fight off cancer cells. Targeted therapy involves finding the specific mutations that cause healthy cells to become cancerous and prevent this. Other, newer forms of therapy, some of which are still considered experimental, such as focal therapy involve destroying the tumour inside the prostate without having to remove it. What are the projections for prostate cancer? The Lancet Commission projects that the number of new cases of prostate cancer annually, will rise from 1·4 million in 2020 to 2·9 million by 2040. Changing age structures and improving life expectancy are predicted to drive big increases in the disease, it says. The Commission also states that late diagnosis of prostate cancer is widespread worldwide but especially in low and middle income countries (LMICs), where late diagnosis is the norm. 'The only way to mitigate the harm caused by rising case numbers is to urgently set up systems for earlier diagnosis in LMICs. Trials of screening are urgently needed in LMICs to better inform ways to improve early diagnosis,' it says.
The National
18-02-2025
- Health
- The National
Bikers look to break taboos of prostate cancer checks
Motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson is now offering men a free prostate cancer blood test with every 800km bike service for the first two years of ownership. Prostate cancer is the fastest growing cancer in men, due largely to wider access to early detection and more men living into older age. The initiative, in partnership with the Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group, aims to break down barriers and encourage more men to get checked once they hit the age of 50. According to research from The Lancet Commission, about 95 per cent of cases occur in men over 50, with African-American men the most at risk. In the UAE, understanding of the disease remains low, with some men unaware of the simple life-saving blood test that could help detect prostate cancer at an early stage and offer the best chance of survival. Doctors said free check-ups offered by Harley-Davidson under the Highway to Health programme are more than a promotional stunt and aim to encourage men to talk about their health. 'There is some misinformation about prostate cancer, with many people believing the main screening test is a physical examination,' said Dr Talal Abdul Jabbar, consultant urologist at Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group. 'We are informing people what the reality is, as still there is a stigma among men. Men tend to show up only when they get symptoms, so they are scared and that often means it can be too late to treat it. They get anxious because they're thinking they'll have a finger examination, while in fact it's just a simple blood test.' Medics at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi surveyed 1,000 men and found 62 per cent were unaware of prostate cancer risk factors, while 70 per cent did not know how to self-examine for testicular cancer. A prostate specific antigen (PSA) test checks levels, which could be an early diagnosis of the disease. Generally, for men in their 40s and 50s a PSA greater than 2.5ng/ml of blood is considered abnormal, and anything over 4ng/ml for men over 60. Various factors can encourage a high reading such as long periods of cycling, or riding a motorcycle, doctors said. Christian Mardini, 47, a long-time biker and sales manager at Harley-Davidson, took his first PSA test six months ago. 'I recently got married, so my health was something I realised I had to pay more attention to, especially if we want to have kids,' said Mr Mardini, who is a founding member of the Berets Motorcycle Club. 'Most of my male friends will check their bikes a lot more often than they will check on their own health, which is alarming. "When I went for the prostate test I thought it would be done in an old-school way, but it was just a blood test and an ultrasound, so it was fine. I got the results back the next day and all was well, which was a big relief. If you get prostate cancer, I assumed doctors would have to remove my prostate which is part of what makes you a man – maybe that is what puts men off getting tested but that's not the case. It is something men should definitely talk more about.' Prostate cancer diagnoses are projected to reach 2.9 million by 2040, with 330 men being diagnosed every hour. In the UAE, screening is generally recommended for men from the age of 50 but for those with a family history of prostate cancer or other risk factors, screening should begin earlier. Aurelius Coutinho, 35, said his male friends rarely spoke about their health issues, as they saw it as a weakness. 'I come from India where a lot of these things are considered taboo, as most men are not really comfortable even to have a conversation about it,' said Mr Coutinho, who lives in Dubai. 'As men, we tend to ignore our health because we think of ourselves as tough but clearly it is important to have yourself regularly checked.' While a good indicator of the need for further checks, a PSA test is not a 100 per cent-accurate detector of cancer. Like many other areas of health care, artificial intelligence could help doctors with more precise testing. A new test developed by the EDX Medical Group in Cambridge uses AI to analyse more than 100 biomarkers in the urine and blood. By identifying specific genes and proteins known to be associated with prostate cancer, the test could offer medics a more reliable early indicator of disease. If further trials are a success, it could develop into a routine examination for prostate cancer in high-risk groups. 'AI is becoming very effective in helping with diagnosis,' said Dr Fatemeh Aghanasiri, a GP at the Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group. 'By mapping someone's genes, we can see if the person has a specific gene for prostate cancer. Most of the big healthcare providers are trying to adapt to this new technology and integrate AI into their practice by offering these routine tests for everything, not just prostate cancer. Routine screenings can mean the difference between catching cancer early, when it's highly treatable, and facing life-altering consequences.'
