In the GLOBOCAN 2020 results updated by the World Health Organization in 2020, which includes world cancer data, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men, it constitutes 14,1% of newly diagnosed cancers in men, and it affects 1.4 million men all over the world every year. He reported that 1 million men have been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men. Stating that prostate cancer was detected as the second most common cancer in men in the GLOBOCAN report, which was updated in 2020 by the World Health Organization and includes world cancer data, Anadolu Health Center Urooncology Center Director Assoc. Dr. İlker Tinay, “If there is a diagnosis of prostate cancer in the family, especially in the father or brother, the probability of developing prostate cancer in that person is 3-5 times higher than in normal people. Mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2, which cause breast cancer in women, also cause prostate cancer in men. Therefore, looking at the family history, not only the prostate cancer in the father but also the breast cancer in the mother poses a risk. Those with a family history of this type of cancer should start prostate screening in their 40s. In patients we can diagnose early, we have the chance to treat earlier and more effectively. Especially prostate examination is very important. Men may refrain from prostate examination for cultural reasons. It should definitely not be avoided,” he said.
In the GLOBOCAN 2020 results updated by the World Health Organization in 2020, which includes world cancer data, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men, it constitutes 14,1% of newly diagnosed cancers in men, and it affects 1.4 million men all over the world every year. He reported that 1 million men have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. According to these data, 375 men die from prostate cancer every year in the world, and prostate cancer ranks 5th among the cancers that cause death in men. According to the GLOBOCAN report of the World Health Organization, 2020 thousand 19 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in Turkey in 444.
Reminding that prostate cancer screening requires a urologist to examine the prostate and determine the PSA level in the blood, Anadolu Medical Center Urology Specialist and Urooncology Center Director Assoc. Dr. İlker Tinay said, “If you have a familial risk, we recommend starting these screenings at the age of 40. If you do not have a familial risk, regular screening should be done after the age of 50, usually in the 60s, if the urological evaluation is accompanied by the determination of the blood PSA level and if there is no negativity as a result of this evaluation. When the mortality rates in the mid-90s, when prostate cancer screening programs started in North America and Western Europe, are compared with today's prostate cancer-related mortality rates, the reason for the significant decrease is both the widespread use of screening programs for early diagnosis (physical examination and PSA control) and treatment options. progress has been reported,” he said.
Assoc. Dr. İlker Tinay said, “We used to do a direct prostate biopsy, but nowadays we take an MRI of the prostate before the biopsy to guide us during the prostate biopsy. Then, we perform the prostate biopsy procedure, guided by the findings provided by MR imaging. With the prostate MR Fusion biopsy method, we can diagnose prostate cancer with higher accuracy than before. Whole body imaging is performed in order to stage the disease in patients diagnosed with cancer after biopsy sampling. After that, treatments are planned according to the location, grade and extent of the tumor.”
Early diagnosis is important for successful treatment and longer survival.
Noting that the awareness in the society has increased over the years, Assoc. Dr. İlker Tinay said, “Screening programs have now found their place in such a common cancer. Urological examination and PSA values are important for screening purposes. Early diagnosis means more successful treatments, which means longer survival. That's why I think the most valuable thing is for people to be conscious and to have regular checkups and scans. In this way, the results of people who are diagnosed early are more successful. In the last 20 years, surgical methods, primarily robotic surgery, used by surgeons, devices and protocols used by radiation oncologists, and radionuclide treatments applied by nuclear medicine specialists are promising. In addition, although there is limited data yet, smart drugs used by medical oncologists, such as immunotherapy, also known as immune system treatments, provide great advantages to patients. 20 years ago, we had limited treatments. Currently, our treatment options that we can use in different stages of the disease have really increased," he said.
Reminding that personalized treatments are applied not only in prostate cancer but in all cancers, Assoc. Dr. İlker Tinay said, “All treatments started to be applied individually. This is already a result of technology and increasing knowledge.”
It is wrong to avoid prostate examination for cultural reasons.
Assoc. Dr. İlker Tinay said, “Early diagnosis is very important. Especially in our country and in most of the eastern societies, unfortunately, there are situations such as shame, fear and hesitation due to the way prostate examination is done culturally. However, there is no reason to avoid such a simple examination in order to prevent such a common cancer. The patient should be examined for the prostate, the PSA test should be checked, and in the light of these, the patient should be evaluated for prostate cancer. Especially people with a family history of prostate or breast cancer should have their first examination in their 40s," he said.
No symptoms of prostate cancer
Stating that there are not many symptoms of prostate cancer, Assoc. Dr. İlker Tinay said, “Prostate cancer may not show any symptoms because the prostate is an organ that already exists and tends to grow naturally in the 50s. Usually, this enlargement is brought under control with urination complaints. In advanced prostate cancer, there are usually complaints of blood in the urine. Since prostate cancer first spreads to the lumbar vertebrae and spine, patients can also consult a doctor with low back and back pain. Explaining that intermittent urination is usually associated with the enlargement of the prostate, Assoc. Dr. İlker Tinay said, “The prostate can grow in a benign manner, or it can enlarge due to cancer. Although it is not a cancer-specific finding, it is important to go to a urology examination.
Regular checkups are the only way to prevent prostate cancer
Emphasizing that there is no way to prevent prostate cancer, Assoc. Dr. İlker Tinay said, “Although this cancer is the most common urological cancer in men, there is no specific cause such as the obvious smoking factor in bladder or kidney cancer, or certain precautions that can be taken. However, as with any disease, it is important to lead a healthy life to reduce the risk. A balanced diet and balanced physical activity affect health positively, but there is no miraculous measure for prostate cancer. Our only recommendation is to lead a balanced life and not to neglect regular doctor check-ups.
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