Dr Eric Ortiz | Head of Medical Oncology of the CIF
The importance of prostate cancer is that 1 in 7 men over the age of 60 will develop this disease and the risk increases with age.
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that men have. It is located below the bladder, near the base of the penis, in front of the rectum, it is in charge of producing liquids or hormones; such as a whitish liquid that is part of semen. As men age, the prostate tends to enlarge.
Prostate cancer is a disease caused when prostate cells grow and develop in a disorderly manner, forming a tumor which, if it grows, can invade nearby structures (seminal vesicles, lymph nodes, bladder) or even move to other tissues. or organs such as the bone, lung, liver, among others, the latter is what we know as metastasis.
There are characteristics that are related to a greater probability of presenting prostate cancer:
- Older
- Family history of prostate cancer
Various symptoms can alert you to the presence of prostate cancer:
- Intermittent or intermittent urine stream
- Increased frequency of urination
- urgency to urinate
- urinary incontinence
- Involuntary passage of urine at night
- Presence of blood or traces of blood in the urine
There are two techniques that help detect the presence of prostate cancer and which are recommended for all men over 45 years of age, these are:
- A) digital rectal examination, due to the proximity of the prostate to the rectum, if it presents an increase in size or consistency, as occurs in prostate cancer; it can be distinguished by palpating the prostate through the anterior wall of the rectum. In case of suspicion of any alteration, the taking of prostate tissue for analysis (biopsy) may be indicated.
- b) Prostate Specific Antigen Test, since the prostate-specific antigen is a protein made by prostate cells, however, in cancer the concentration of this protein is increased. The results must be carefully interpreted by a specialist and correlated with other studies, because this protein can also be found increased by the presence of infections, inflammation of the prostate and even in the case of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
In case of being diagnosed with prostate cancer, an assessment is required by a multidisciplinary team, made up of oncology specialists who will assess the case, determining the stage in which the disease is found and its extension. Not all men diagnosed with prostate cancer require treatment, however, this depends on the characteristics of the disease and the characteristics of the patient.
In early stages, treatment is mainly based on resection of the prostate (prostatectomy) and blocking testosterone (a hormone secreted by the testicles), since it promotes the growth of prostate cells. In more advanced stages, other treatment options can be offered, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, new generation hormonal blockade or combinations of these, and the decision will be personalized for each patient.
We invite all men to undergo prostate tests annually from the age of 45, and in case of suspicion or confirmation of prostate cancer, see a specialist in the field.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Urination: The process by which the urinary bladder eliminates urine.
Prostatectomy: surgery to remove the prostate gland.
