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Hugh Masekela, Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela are just a handful of prominent South Africans who received treatment for prostate cancer. While most men over the age of 65 are at higher risk of contracting prostate cancer, we’re starting to see an increase of prostate cancer occurring in younger men. In 2017, 25% of all cancer claims in men were for prostate cancer.
Liberty’s medical officer Dr Thabani Nkwanyana says, “If you’re over the age of 45, you should have your prostate checked at least every three years. Older males are at greater risk and black men are more likely to develop prostate cancer than white men. If you show any symptoms, particularly urinary symptoms, such as difficulty urinating, dribbling of urine or blood in the urine, see your doctor immediately.”
The biggest problem with prostate cancer is that most prostate cancers develop without showing any symptoms in the early stages, which is why regular screening is very important. The good news is that prostate cancer isn’t as aggressive as other cancers. Treatment is therefore generally successful and early diagnosis usually results in successful recovery.
If you have any of the following problems, consult a doctor immediately:
- A frequent or excessive need to urinate during the day and/or at night
- Difficulty in starting, maintaining or stopping the urine stream
- A weak or interrupted urine stream
- Straining to urinate
- Inability to urinate (urinary retention)
- Loss of control of urination that may be associated with coughing or laughing, or sudden urges to urinate
- Difficulty urinating when standing, requiring you to sit on the toilet
- Pain with urination or ejaculation
- Blood in the urine or semen
According to Dr Nkwanyana, the exact causes of prostate cancer are not known. However, your lifestyle, age, ethnicity and genetic make-up play a significant role in increasing your risk factors. Your ability to survive the disease also depends on your lifestyle choices.
He says, “If, after diagnosis, you continue to eat a diet with high levels of sugar, fat and carbohydrates, instead of more vegetables, fruit, fish, grains and legumes, you increase your risk of dying from prostate cancer. Intensive lifestyle changes, including a healthier diet and frequent exercise, could slow the cancer’s growth and increase your chance of recovery.”
A sedentary lifestyle and bad eating habits will increase the risk of most cancers and, if you have a family history of prostate cancer or have the BRCA 1 and 2 genes, your risk factor is significantly higher. Genes are inherited and so gene mutations that increase the risk of developing cancer may be passed down.
Screening for prostate cancer may involve a blood test to determine the prostate specific antigen (PSA) level and/or a digital examination. PSA is a protein produced by the prostate and rising levels indicate a problem with the gland, but this isn’t unique to cancer. Researchers are working on different tumour markers to identify cancer more specifically.
Dr Nkwanyana says, “Unfortunately, not all men with prostate cancer will have raised PSA levels, as other factors, such as obesity, could affect the test results. Obese men have a lower level of PSA. Therefore the PSA blood test together with a digital rectal exam is best for early detection. However, both tests may result in false positives and negatives.”
If a lump is felt in the prostate but the PSA test is normal, a biopsy is not required. A repeat PSA test in six months’ time is advisable. If the result of one of the tests is abnormal, you’ll need a prostate biopsy where samples are taken from the prostate and sent to the laboratory for examination under a microscope. When a prostate biopsy is done, the cancer cells can be missed. Scientists are working on finding ways to enhance the cancer cells so that the doctor can easily identify them at the time of biopsy.
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