Prostate cancer

The prostate is a gland that is part of the male reproductive system. It is located under the bladder (urinary bladder). Prostate cancer may develop as a result of uncontrolled proliferation of cells that make up the prostate. In our country and in the world, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men after lung cancer.

Although the exact causes of prostate cancer are unknown:

The risk increases with age.

Those with a first-degree relative (father, brother, older brother) with prostate cancer have twice the risk of developing this cancer compared to other people.

A diet rich in saturated fats (fats found in animal foods, butter, margarine, tallow, tail fat) and red meat, and poor in vegetables and fruits, may increase the risk of prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer does not show any symptoms in its early stages. As the cancer tissue grows, it can cause some of the following complaints:

• frequent urination
• Don’t get up to urinate at night
• intermittent urination
• difficult urination
• painful urination
• bloody urine
• bloody semen

Having these complaints does not indicate prostate cancer, but it can be a clue. When at least one of these complaints is present, a urology specialist should be consulted.

Prostate cancer is a disease that can be diagnosed and treated early. It is important for men to have a regular examination by a urologist and to have a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test in the blood, starting from the age of 50 and for those with a first degree relative with prostate cancer, starting from the age of 40 for early diagnosis. There are different treatment options according to the stage and characteristics of the disease. Monitoring the person at certain intervals, surgical removal of the entire prostate or radiation therapy (radiotherapy) can be applied in the early stages. Hormone therapy or drug therapy (chemotherapy) may be necessary at other stages. Early diagnosis and treatment are lifesaving.

As in all cancers; Healthy (rich in vegetables and fruits) eating habits, physical activity (such as walking, running, cycling, swimming), being at a healthy weight and staying at this weight can reduce the risk of prostate cancer. It can be learned whether you are at a healthy weight by consulting your family doctor.

Especially since those whose first-degree relatives have had prostate cancer are at high risk, they should go to your urologist regularly from the age of 40, and for other men from the age of 50, to have a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test in the blood.