June 11 marks World Prostate Cancer Day, which is aimed at preventing this type of cancer, which in 2020 caused 1.41 million new cases and therefore ranks fourth in incidence after breast, lung and colorectal cancer, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In the case of Colombia, in February 2021, the Ministry of Health indicated that this disease affects 47 people per 100,000 inhabitants.
Prostate cancer, according to the Ministry of Health is the malignant growth of the prostate gland. In advanced stages, cancer cells spread to distant sites through blood and lymphatic vessels, and have the ability to invade other organs.
There are several risk factors that are associated with this pathology, however, they can be taken into account in order to reduce the diagnosis. Among these are the high consumption of dairy and red meat, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity or inadequate weight, alcohol consumption and exposure to chemical contaminants.
In addition to this, the appearance of this type of cancer may be directly related to age, since, in Colombia, it is estimated that 1 in 3 inhabitants who are older than 50 years suffer from prostate cancer.
“Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in the male population. That is why it is important to make a call for men to attend preventive medical check-ups and be attentive to any signs such as difficulty urinating, blood in urine or semen, and pain when urinating or ejaculating”, he comments. Hélida Silva, Director of Medical Affairs for Siemens Healthineers, Latin America.
Despite being a disease with high prevalence rates, it should be noted that its survival rate is directly related to the stage in which it is detected. If it is detected in the initial stage, in which the cancer has not yet spread outside the prostate gland, there are more management alternatives. In this sense, it is estimated that, out of every five cancers, four are at an early stage, in which the five-year survival is close to 100%.
If the disease is at the regional stage, where the cancer has already spread outside the prostate, the 10-year survival rate is reported to be around 75%. If, on the other hand, the cancer is in the distant stage, where it is already present in lymph nodes and other organs, the relative survival rate at 5 years is close to 28%.
“Currently, diagnostic imaging technology and laboratory tests contribute to the early detection of this type of cancer. That is why the challenge is to improve the patient experience, transform health care and provide precision medicine, so that specialists and professionals in the sector can successfully diagnose, treat and monitor the disease”, says Hélida Silva. , Director of Medical Affairs for Siemens Healthineers, Latin America.
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