As September is observed as Prostate Cancer awareness month worldwide, doctors now say that increasing life expectancy in India has increased the burden of this disease also.
One-sixth of the deaths are caused by prostate cancer out of the 7.6 million deaths due to cancer worldwide, which is also the second most frequently diagnosed cancer type after lung cancer. Dr Rajeev Bedi of Fortis Hospital said, "70% of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over the age of 65. It is still unclear why this increase with age occurs for prostate cancer but studies suggest that after 70, most men have some form of prostate cancer, though there may be no outward symptoms.”
The prostate is an exocrine gland of the male reproductive system and exists directly under the bladder. Roughly the size of a walnut, it is through the prostate that the urethra — the tube carrying urine and semen out of the body — goes through. Besides producing a fluid that forms part of the semen and protects the sperm, this gland also plays a role in urine control.
The incidents of prostate cancer have been the highest in the United States and Europe and lower in countries of South and East Asia. However, with increase in life expectancy, adoption of newer lifestyles and screening using Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), the incidents are on the rise in low and middle income countries like India. In India, where life expectancy increased from 61.97 in 2001 to 65.48 in 2011, prostate cancer is growing by a percent every year. However, not many people are aware of this problem and its treatment.
Dr Bedi says Prostate Cancer initially remains confined to the prostate gland, where it may not be harmful. In some types it may grow slowly and need minimal or no treatment, other types are aggressive and can spread quickly. One new case occurs every 2.5 minutes and a man dies from prostate cancer every 17 minutes. A non-smoking man is more likely to get prostate cancer than lung, bronchus, colon, rectal, bladder, lymphoma, melanoma, oral and kidney cancers combined. Because it is a relatively slow-growing cancer, the 5-year survival rate diagnosed at all stages is 98 per cent. The relative 10-year survival rate is 84 per cent and the 15-year survival rate is 56 per cent.
In the West, where a number of celebrities and high profile people have spoken publicly about the disease, awareness has steadily risen. Hollywood stalwarts Robert De Niro and Michael Douglas have undergone treatment for prostate cancer, so has South Africa's iconic former President Nelson Mandela and former US Secretary of State Colin Powell. Age, genetic predispositions and diet all seem to have a direct correlation with the risk of prostate cancer. Some studies have also indicated that men with sexually transmitted diseases too have a higher chance of this disease.
However, in India the awareness about the disease remains low. "It is important to note that there are no warning signs of early prostate cancer. Once a tumor causes the prostate gland to swell, or once cancer spreads beyond the prostate," a doctor said. Symptoms range from frequent need to urinate, especially at night, weak or interrupted urinary stream and blood in urine or semen.
Doctors said it becomes important to immediately visit a doctor if any of these symptoms are observed. The good part is that prostate cancer is a relatively slow-growing cancer, and hence the survival rate is high. The treatments include surgery (prostatectomy), radiotherapy, hormonal therapy using androgen-depriving drugs, depending upon the stage and level of the cancer.