Chennai: Prostate cancer is the most common men’s cancer in the world. In India, this is becoming progressively more common.
In many cities, this cancer is found to be second common cancer amongst men. Generally noted as a cancer of elderly, this is now often being diagnosed in men in their late 40s and 50s as well. Awareness is the key for early diagnosis and hence effective treatment and potential cure.
However, with increasing age, prostate gland becomes enlarged, and, or, becomes tighter, hence decreasing the flow of urination. This leads to set of symptoms includes slow stream, frequency, urgency etc. Such an enlargement commonly is due to the non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate. But a section of men may have cancer as well.
According to Dr N Ragavan, senior consultant uro-oncologist and robotic surgeon from Chennai Specialty Clinic and Apollo Hospitals, “Prostate cancer, in its early stages may not exhibit any symptoms. Being aware of this condition and testing periodically (say once a year) is the best way to pick up very early cancer. In general, prostate cancer patients exhibits symptoms similar to the ones found in patients with benign (non- cancerous) enlargement. In addition, if there is spread of the cancer to the bones, symptoms related to the spread will also be seen.”