If diagnosed early, prostrate caner can be treated successfully : Expert

CHANDIGARH: “Even as

prostate cancer

is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the west, however in India its diagnosis is often delayed because patients consult their doctors only after symptoms set in. If diagnosed early, it can be treated successfully. In fact, in 9 out of 10 cases, early detection can provide a long-term cure. But, for early diagnosis, awareness about the disease and its screening modalities is absolutely crucial.”

This was stated today by Dr Baldev Singh Aulakh, Professor of Urology and

Head Kidney Transplant Department

at

Dayanand Medical College

and Hospital, Ludhiana.

He said further with changing lifestyles and increasing life expectancy, the rate of prostate

cancer

is growing rapidly in India. But this trend has not accompanied a corresponding increase in the levels of awareness.” Close to 70% of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over the age of 65.

“Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in Indian males, second only to lung cancer. It is the sixth most common cause of death. “While we hear a lot of awareness on cardiac diseases and diabetes, not much is talked about of prostate cancer. Indians tend to ignore or misread the early symptoms of cancer, which delays diagnosis and treatment until the problem has become less amenable to medication. Time is not far off when Prostate Cancer will become the most common cancer among males in India.”

Age, is the most influential risk factor. If a man above the age of 65 and have lately been suffering from a frequent need to urinate, especially at night, a weak or interrupted urinary stream and blood in urine or semen, it’s time he take these symptoms seriously. Regarded as the most classic signs of prostate cancer, these symptoms are often overlooked and blamed on old age, pointed out Dr Aulakh.

Since cancer screening is not routinely available in India, our aim should be to start screening patients to detect early prostate cancer. It involves a simple blood test, known as serum PSA test once in a year in men over 50-yr. However those men who are at a higher risk with family history of prostate cancer at an early age, they should begin testing after 40-yr , asserted Dr Aulakh .