Prostate Cancer
PROSTATE cancer (PCa) is one of the biggest threats to men’s health. It tends to develop in men over the age of fifty and is considered as one of the most common cancers among males around the globe. It is estimated that prostate cancer kills one man almost every 19 minutes while a new case is detected every two and a half minutes.
According to the Philippine Cancer Society Inc.’s (PCSI) population-based cancer registry, 10 men out of 100,000 will suffer from prostate cancer. In recent years, this statistic has translated to an estimated 4,254 prostate cancer patients in the Philippines. Sadly, most of them are unaware of the symptoms of how they can be tested for it or of how the disease can be treated. This is unfortunate because - like most cancers - the earlier prostate cancer is diagnosed, the greater the chances of it being successfully treated.
With this alarming number of prostate cancer patients, June has been declared as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. It is a month dedicated for men to be made aware that “the silent-killer” doesn’t really have to kill. If they know about it, they can win against it.
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, an accessory sex gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing, but some can be very aggressive. Prostate cancer may cause pain, difficulty in urination, problems during sexual intercourse, or, even, erectile dysfunction. But, more commonly, it may not produce any symptoms at all until the later stages.
Many factors, including genetics and diet, have been implicated in the development of prostate cancer. Diagnosing it is facilitated by 2 main tests: the DRE or Digital Rectal Exam - which can be performed in the clinic by the urologist and the PSA or Prostate Specific Antigen - a blood exam which is done in most labs. At times, it may become necessary to have a transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) of the prostate done.
May mga screening tests gaya ng pagkapa ng
According to the Philippine Cancer Society Inc.’s (PCSI) population-based cancer registry, 10 men out of 100,000 will suffer from prostate cancer. In recent years, this statistic has translated to an estimated 4,254 prostate cancer patients in the Philippines. Sadly, most of them are unaware of the symptoms of how they can be tested for it or of how the disease can be treated. This is unfortunate because - like most cancers - the earlier prostate cancer is diagnosed, the greater the chances of it being successfully treated.
With this alarming number of prostate cancer patients, June has been declared as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. It is a month dedicated for men to be made aware that “the silent-killer” doesn’t really have to kill. If they know about it, they can win against it.
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, an accessory sex gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing, but some can be very aggressive. Prostate cancer may cause pain, difficulty in urination, problems during sexual intercourse, or, even, erectile dysfunction. But, more commonly, it may not produce any symptoms at all until the later stages.
Many factors, including genetics and diet, have been implicated in the development of prostate cancer. Diagnosing it is facilitated by 2 main tests: the DRE or Digital Rectal Exam - which can be performed in the clinic by the urologist and the PSA or Prostate Specific Antigen - a blood exam which is done in most labs. At times, it may become necessary to have a transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) of the prostate done.
May mga screening tests gaya ng pagkapa ng