2023-06-10 19:45:00
Every 45 minutes a person is diagnosed with prostate cancer in Argentinaa figure that places this disease among one of the main causes of male mortality due to “lack of awareness” and fear of controls, but that can be cured if it is diagnosed on time, specialists warned in the framework of the World Day of this pathology, which is commemorated every June 11.
“It is the most frequent tumor in man. However, It is not the most lethal because it can be detected early. It is a rather indolent disease in its early stages and there are many methodologies to treat it,” he told Télam Carlos Silvamedical coordinator and the Psychosocial Area of the Argentine League for the Fight once morest Cancer (Lalcec).
“When the patient consults with symptoms, the tumor already has enough entity. You have to anticipate that“said the oncology specialist.
Warning signs include the presence of blood in urine or semen; have difficulties urinating, such as the feeling of not being able to completely empty your bladder; introduce pain in the pelvic region or lower back; and to have erectile dysfunction.
According to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Health, each year 11,686 cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed, one every 45 minutesand it is estimated that around 3,500 men die from this disease every year in the country.
Furthermore, it is estimated that one in eight men will have this disease throughout his life in Argentina, which is why it is the most common type of cancer in the male population and the third in mortality following lung and colorectal cancer.
“The fundamental thing is early diagnosis through two things: digital rectal exam (DRE)known as digital rectal examination, and a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. Of the two, the most important is the rectal examination, which is what men shy away from the most,” Silva continued.
the prostate, a gland the size of a walnut which is part of the male reproductive system, its function is to produce semen together with the testicles and seminal vesicles.
Being located in the pelvis, just below the bladder and in front of the rectum, when the prostate becomes diseased enlarges and compresses the urethrabeing able to generate urinary disorders.
Due to the location of the prostate, Silva highlighted the importance of performing a digital rectal examination, which allows the doctor to “palpate a nodule directly from the rectum”, while warning that PSA has 40% false positives and 20% false negatives.
The main risk factors are associated with age, since this type of cancer is more frequent following 50 years of age and 81% of patients are over 65 years of age, according to data from Lalcec.
Other factors are a family history of the disease, a diet high in saturated fat, obesity, smoking, and lack of regular physical activity.
Some of the suggestions to carry out a healthy diet are to include a variety of fruits and vegetables daily, while limiting the consumption of red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages, and ultra-processed foods.
“The slogan to emphasize is that from the age of 50 men should go to the urologist once a year to perform a digital rectal examination. In case of having a family history, the person should start the check-ups at 40,” Silva said. .
For his part, the head of the Urology Division of the Hospital de Clínicas of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), Norberto Bernardo, remarked to Télam: “We must insist to the population on the importance of early consultation to rule out the possibility of having disease or diagnose it early to increase the chance of cure.
On this point, the urology specialist indicated that “during the pandemic annual check-ups decreased, but now they are increasing once more.”
“One of the main problems that hinder the fight once morest this disease is related to the lack of awareness and education regarding prostate cancer in the male population,” he added.
In this sense, Bernardo pointed out that “although we have made a lot of progress, gender prejudices still persist that must be resolved with information regarding the need for blood tests to measure prostate specific antigen and prostate examination.”
Something similar was raised by Silva, who assured that “men, in general, are less likely than women to carry out routine tests. Men are more skittish, while women are much more aware of controls and do them early on” .
Regarding cancer treatment, Bernardo explained that it consists “in the extraction of the prostate and the seminal vesicles that can be done openly, laparoscopically or robotically” and explained that “radiotherapy can be conventional or hypofractionated”.
“New techniques are being developed to treat prostate cancer with robotic surgery and preserve the structures of nerves and blood vessels that improve the preservation of urinary continence and erection,” Bernardo explained to Télam from Stockholm, Sweden, where he participated this week in an international congress of robotic surgery in which advances on the subject were presented.
Although the Hospital de Clínicas does not yet have robotic systems to treat this cancer, the doctor said that at the “Challenges in Robotic Surgery” congress, “new companies that are interested in establishing links with university hospitals were presented, representing an opportunity.”
Every June 11, World Prostate Cancer Day is commemorated to raise awareness regarding this disease which, according to the latest data collected by the Global Cancer Observatory (Globocan), affected more than 1,400,000 people worldwide in 2020. .
This year, during the month of June, Lalcec carries out a free prostate control campaign for men over 50 without health insurance.
Shifts are taken by phone, calling 4834-1500 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., writing to turnos@lalcec.org.ar or WhatsApp at 11-3597-5227.
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