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Its symptoms are not specific and can be confused with those of other prostate manifestations, so it is mandatory to keep in mind if a father or brother suffers from it or if there is a history of breast cancer.
Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in men worldwide, from which even adults under 50 years of age are not spared, since Dr. Ignacio Moncada, head of the Urology Service at Hospital Sanitas La Zarzuela, recently operated on a young man below 40 years old to save his life.
Likewise, the news of the death of Javier Imbroda, an Andalusian educational advisor and former basketball coach at the age of 61 due to the disease, makes it clear that prostate cancer is not a problem for “old men” nor is it of little importance because, although be very aggressive, that does not mean that it is not deadly. However, the earlier its appearance, the greater its lethality.
“Generally, early prostate cancer is due to genetic causes; there are genes that are inherited and that increase the risk”.
Ignacio Moncada, specialist at Hospital Sanitas La Zarzuela
Having a father or brother who has prostate cancer or a history of breast cancer increases the chance of developing the disease and is the main warning sign, since the BCRA1 and BCRA2 oncogenes are associated with both types. In addition, its symptoms are not specific and can be confused with those of other prostatic manifestations related to voiding frequency or stream, so family history must be taken into account.
If any of those oncogenes are detected from blood tests, controls should be redoubled to diagnose the disease early, according to Ignacio Moncada.
Regarding the diagnosis of prostate cancer, the biomarker PSA (prostate-specific antigen) is the one indicated to determine the presence of the tumor from the age of 50, which also generated controversy for many years because its increase is not always related to this neoplasm. However, Moncada explained that when it began to be implemented in a large way, the mortality of this condition has decreased and no one questions its positivity anymore.
“Today, everyone agrees that it’s a boon to increased survival from prostate cancer.”
However, the urologist admitted that it is a non-specific marker that is triggered by prostatitis or even benign prostatic hyperplasia, an imprecision that can be clarified with a multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging or a directed biopsy, techniques capable of visualizing lesions in more detail.
Regarding the habits that are associated with the appearance of prostate cancer, the expert mentioned that it is enough to remain thin, without smoking and with a healthy diet, but it has not really been proven what helps to prevent the disease or what its risk factors are .
Finally, it has been said that maintaining an active sexual life provides protection against this neoplasm, but the specialist assures that this activity implies that the prostate works because it produces seminal fluid and keeps it working, but there are no clear studies that confirm this theory.
It may interest you: 7 thousand Mexicans die a year from prostate cancer
DH
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