MIAMI. – The prostate is a small, irregularly shaped, reddish gland that men have attached to the neck of the bladder. It is responsible for producing part of the seminal fluid, which nourishes and protects the sperm. This fluid mixes with sperm from the testicles and secretions from other glands to form semen. During ejaculation, the prostate muscles push the semen into the urethra and out. Hence its importance.
According to the New York Health InstituteAfter skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, so science has focused on discovering new treatments and examination models for its detection.
Due to the location, it is very difficult to do a prostate self-examination. For the most part, almost all types of cancer form a lump or growth called a tumor, but if a man has a hardening of the organ or a lump he may not find out as quickly.
What symptoms does prostate cancer present?
Prostate cancer is pretty silent. In its early stages there are no symptoms that are general and present in most cases, so constant attention when urinating is recommended to observe any specific changes.
The prostate surrounds the urethra, which is the tube that carries both urine and semen, but not simultaneously. Therefore, any bulge in the area can cause difficulties in fulfilling both functions, that is, the man may have problems urinating or ejaculating. Although both symptoms can be caused by other pathologies, the patient must be analyzed together to rule out other causes.
When a man has any problem with urination, who notices a weak or interrupted flow, may also experience pain when urinating, painful ejaculation, blood in the urine or semen, or painful discomfort in the back, hip or pelvis, he should immediately see a doctor to determine the cause of these symptoms.
Can prostate cancer be prevented?
The answer is “NO”. There is no proven protocol that guarantees 100% prevention of this type of cancer. There are factors such as age and heredity that cannot be changed in an individual, so it is necessary to be more aware of possible changes that may give an indication that something is not working correctly.
How to reduce risk factors?
Leading a healthy life is the key to avoiding most diseases, and prostate cancer is no exception to this premise. According to the American Cancer Society The effects of body weight, physical activity, and diet on prostate cancer risk are not entirely clear, although you can take steps that could reduce your risk.
Some studies have found that men with overweight They have a higher risk of having advanced prostate cancer or a higher chance of it being fatal.
Although not all studies agree, several have found an increased risk of prostate cancer in men who eat a diet high in dairy and calcium. This claim is under investigation.
In the portal cancer.org The importance of several actions to maintain a healthy life is highlighted.
Physical activities are essential.
- Adults: They should have physical activity of 150 to 300 minutes at moderate intensity, or 75 to 150 at vigorous intensity (or a combination of both) throughout each week. The ideal is to achieve or even exceed the upper limit of 300 minutes per week.
- Sedentary behaviors such as sitting, lying down, watching TV or other forms of recreation that focus on watching a screen should be limited.
Always healthy eating
Nutrient-rich foods in amounts that help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
A healthy eating pattern limits or does not include: red and processed meats. Sugar-sweetened beverages. Highly processed foods and refined grain products. It is best not to drink alcohol.
Additionally, you can limit your intake of calcium supplements and avoid consuming too much calcium in your diet. (This does not mean that men who have received treatment for prostate cancer should not take calcium supplements if their doctors recommend it).
Rising numbers
The Commission’s publication Lancet Prostate Cancer: Planning for Surge, warns that the global burden of prostate cancer will more than double to nearly three million new cases in 2040, compared to the estimated number of cases today.
“The ability to reduce the projected increase in new cases through lifestyle changes or public health interventions is very limited. Therefore, there is an urgent need to establish systems for early diagnosis, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where changes in demographic structure and increased life expectancy will drive a significant increase in incidence. An increase in the number of cases is also expected in high-income countries. Late diagnosis is common around the world, but is especially problematic in LMICs,” the commission highlights. which is part of the International Agency for Cancer Research of the World Health Organization (WHO)
They indicate that screening trials in low- and middle-income countries are urgently needed to better inform ways to improve early diagnosis, avoiding overdiagnosis and overtreatment of mild cases, as well as to identify new methods that empower patients (such as cloud-based electronic health record systems) and the implementation of guidelines that optimize resources to maximize the effect of available therapies, such as surgery and radiotherapy. EYE FOR WEB https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00651-2
Experts say it is likely that the increase in prostate cancer will be reflected in increases in other conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, which is why they recommend that early diagnosis programs should focus not only on prostate cancer, but on men’s health in general.
They suggest thatOutreach programs are needed that take advantage of the widespread global availability of smartphones as tools for prostate cancer education (using both social and traditional media), as well as programs that help people navigate health care systems.
For more information, see the American Cancer Society Guide to Diet and Physical Activity.
