Fondation Cancer Luxembourg has dedicated this month to spreading awareness of prostate cancer among men.
Prostate cancer has been found to be the most common cancer in humans, although it is very rare before 50 years of age. Indeed, the average age of diagnosis is around 70. In 2014, there were 293 new cases of prostate cancer in Luxembourg.
The disease often evolves very slowly with the malignant tumour being first limited to the prostate. Over time, the tumour grows, can extend beyond and invade other organs such as bones, liver and lungs; this is called metastatic prostate cancer.
The main risk factor of this type of cancer is age with over 80s being most at risk. Other factors are genetics, i.e. hereditary forms of prostate cancer, and non-hereditary. There are also many debatable or unproven risk factors.
Most often, prostate cancer develops without causing any particular symptoms. It is discovered following a measurement of PSA (during a blood test) and/ or an abnormality of the consistency of the prostate during a rectal examination. It can however cause changes regarding urination, such as waking up in the night to urinate or having to urinate frequently or urgently, as well as the presence of blood in the urine, similar to the symptoms of a urinary tract infection. Other symptoms include painful ejaculation, a dysfunctional erection or pain in the lower back or bones. If any of these symptoms are present, it is advised to consult a doctor.
At present, there are no known ways to prevent prostate cancer and the Fondation Cancer does not recommend organised (national) screenings. However, the diagnosis of prostate cancer does not necessarily imply treatment. Taking into account the difference in aggressiveness and the fact that in most cases the cancer evolves slowly, as well as the age of the patient, treatment is discussed on a case by case basis. Active surveillance, surgery, external radiotherapy, brachytherapy and hormone therapy may be proposed and such treatment is adapted to each patient.
