Prostate Cancer Risk: How Common Is It and How to Detect It Early

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers diagnosed among men throughout the world. Despite the relativity of the survival rate, better treatments are always proven in cases of early detection. For this reason, it is important to know the measures that can be implemented to increase early detection and save lives. 

Risk Factors For Prostate Cancer

While the cause of prostate cancer is not well understood, several risk factors are known to be associated with the development of this cancer. 

• Age: Since the risk of prostate cancer increases with age, most of the cases are diagnosed in men after they have reached the age of 65.
• Family History: Men who have had their relatives suffer from prostate cancer are at a higher risk. If the father or brother suffers from the disease, then the person’s risk doubles.
• Diet and Lifestyle: There is not much of an established association between diet and prostate cancer. Other than that, a diet rich in fat, obesity, and sedentary life increases one's risk for prostate cancer development.
• Genetic Factors: Genetic mutations, specifically those in BRCA1 and BRCA2, associated with breast cancer, have been linked to an increased risk for prostate cancer. These are, however, very rare.

Signs and Diagnosis

Prostate cancer does not have many symptoms in its initial stages; the disease has to be screened for detection. Upon reaching some size, the symptoms become apparent, which include difficulty in urinating or a weak stream, blood in the urine or semen, painful ejaculation, and some form of pain in the lower back, hips, or pelvis.

However, it can also be due to other conditions, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia. This is the enlargement of the prostate, not cancer. This is one reason why regular screening must be conducted so that prostate cancer can be detected even before visible symptoms have appeared.

Read more - What is Prostate Cancer: Symptoms, Causes & Types

Early Detection: Key to Better Outcomes

Early diagnosis is one of the factors responsible for increased survival as far as prostate cancer is concerned. There are various methods of detection of prostate cancer, with the most commonly used tests being PSA and DRE.

• Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test: The level of PSA is somewhat elevated in prostate cancer and has been considered useful as a screening test. However, a high PSA can also be seen with other conditions, including prostatitis and BPH. Thus, although useful, the test cannot provide an independent diagnosis and usually ends up in more elaborate testing procedures.
• Digital Rectal Exam: A DRE is when a doctor feels for abnormalities in the prostate by reaching in through the rectal wall. Though it's less sensitive than the PSA test, it can detect cancers that have not yet raised PSA levels. A conversation with a provider about potential screening may be appropriate for higher-risk patients, such as those 50 years and older, but especially those with a family history.

Even though these screening tools exist, prostate cancer remains one of the toughest cancers to detect early. Early detection through better methods may save thousands of lives. Targeted screening is a good option for detecting prostate cancer at an early stage. It should be recommended depending on risk profiles. For example, men with a history of prostate cancer in their family or males should discuss the necessity and timing for screening with their physician at a younger age. This should begin at about 40–45 years for those groups of people. In the case of others, a decision on the necessity of screening should be made at 50-55 years.

Prostate cancer is widespread; though most of the men diagnosed will not have severe health problems, early detection reduces the mortality rate. It would be hoped that earlier detection would be better and better outcomes would be achieved with new technologies and increased awareness, introducing regular screenings and individualising the risk factors. Improved survival rates with a better quality of life would continue to be ensured if men, empowered by knowledge and tools, could detect prostate cancer early.