Undetected prostate cancer increasing among Filipinos

Being macho may look good, but the pressure to be seen as such could be preventing Filipino men with prostate cancer from seeking medical help.

 

“Most Filipino males don’t visit their doctor because they are scared about what the symptoms could mean,” explained Dr. Michael Jonathan Latayan, a urology consultant at Metro Davao Medical and Research Center. “This is the reason why undetected cases of prostate cancer are increasing.”

 

As the Department of Health is set to observe the Prostate Cancer Awareness Month this June, Dr. Latayan urged Filipino men who are in their 40s and above to start having an annual prostate exam.

 

“A man should have a digital rectal exam (DRE) at age 45 if he has no family history of prostate cancer, or earlier at age 40 if some members of the family has it,” explained Dr. Latayan

 

The prostate gland, which aids sexual intercourse by producing semen to transport sperm cells during the act, lies just under the bladder and surrounds the urethra. The size of a pili nut among young men, it enlarges with age.

 

“Prostate cancer occurs when the cells of the prostate grow uncontrollably,” said Dr. Latayan, who is also the vice-chairman for hospital affairs and the Department of Surgery at the Davao Medical School Foundation, Inc. “This is the most common malignancy found in men.”

 

Prostate cancer usually grows slowly and initially remains confined to the prostate gland, where it may not cause serious harm. “There are some types of prostate cancer that grow slowly and may need minimal or no treatment, while there are types which are aggressive and can spread quickly,” he said.

 

Dr. Latayan pointed out that if prostate cancer is detected early – when it’s still confined to the prostate gland – “there is a 90-percent chance of successful treatment.”

 

Second most common cancer among Pinoy males

 

After lung cancer, prostate cancer is now the second most common cancer among Filipino males.  

 

Dubbed “the silent killer of men,” it has resulted in over 4,000 new cases and 2,000 deaths in the country in 2005.  

 

The 2010 statistics from the Department of Health showed about 6 million Filipino men over the age of 50 are susceptible to develop the disease.

 

Health Secretary Enrique Ona said that 50 percent of Filipino men aged 50 and above “will develop urinary and prostate problems that progress as they age.”

 

According to Dr. Latayan, prostate cancer usually doesn’t produce any noticeable symptoms in its early stages, so many cases ofprostate cancer aren’t detected until the cancer has spread beyond the prostate.

 

“To diagnose prostate problems – including prostate cancer – doctors usually perform a digital rectal exam (DRE), which is the insertion of a gloved finger inside the rectum to assess the size of the prostate,” said Dr. Willie T. Ong, an internist and cardiologist who serves as consultant at the Manila Doctors Hospital and Makati Medical Center. “A PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test, a urinalysis, and a special ultrasound of the prostate are often requested, too.”

 

Preventing prostate cancer

 

The US National Cancer Institute (NCI) says that avoiding cancer risk factors may help prevent certain cancers.  For prostate cancer, the risk factors include smoking, being overweight, and not getting enough exercise. 

 

Increasing protective factors such as quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, and exercising may also help prevent prostate cancer.

 

“Talk to your doctor or other health care professional about how you might lower your risk of cancer,” the NCI adds.

 

The Mayo Clinic advises maintaining a healthy diet. “A healthy diet that's low in fat and full of fruits and vegetables may reduce your risk of prostate cancer,” it said.

 

In studies, men who ate the highest amount of fat each day had an increased risk of prostate cancer.  Instead of eating meat, Mayo Clinic suggested eating fatty fish like salmon, sardines, tuna and trout.  “They contain a fatty acid called omega-3 that has been linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer,” it said.

 

Prostatitis and BPH

 

Aside from prostate cancer, two other disorders that totally affect the prostate gland are prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

 

Prostatitis is swelling and inflammation of the prostate gland. It can be caused by a number of different things. If it’s caused by a bacterial infection, it can usually be treated successfully. However, sometimes prostatitis isn’t caused by a bacterial infection or a cause is never identified.

 

“Depending on the cause, prostatitis may come on gradually or suddenly,” the US Mayo Clinic says. “It may get better quickly, either on its own or with treatment. Some types of prostatitis last for months or more or keep recurring.”

 

BPH is a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland, makes urination difficult and uncomfortable. “Prostate enlargement is very common as men age,” the University of Maryland Medical Center said. “Symptoms usually develop around age 50 and by age 60, most men have some degree of BPH. At age 85, men have a 90 percent chance of having urination problems caused by BPH.”

 

BPH, however, is not a kind of cancer and it does not put a person at increased risk for developing prostate cancer, assures Dr. Latayan. —KG, GMA News