By Dr. David Rodriguez Osorio
The prostate is a walnut-shaped gland that measures 3x4x2 cm and weighs approximately 20 grams. Its function is to help urinary control and to secrete a fluid that nourishes and protects sperm. Prostate cancer is a tumor that arises from the direct epithelium of the prostate and is the most common non-cutaneous cancer and the second leading cause of cancer mortality in American men. In Mexico, it is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in men, with a rate of 13 per 100,000 Mexicans. There are three well-established risk factors for prostate cancer, which are:
- Older age, with risk increasing after age 45 in men with no family history and at age 40 in African-Americans or those who have a direct relative with this tumor.
- Genetic predisposition (ethnicity and heredity), where the risk doubles for men with a direct relative with prostate cancer and increases up to nine times for those with two or more family histories.
- Environmental factors, where lifestyle, dietary factors, infections, smoking, sexual activity, and obesity, among many others, intervene.
Prostate cancer typically has no initial symptoms but may be accompanied by discomfort such as difficulty or pain when urinating, urinating frequently, or a decrease in urinary stream; however, in advanced stages it can cause bleeding in the urine, weight loss, back or bone pain, or pathological fractures. The way to diagnose this cancer is through a review of the prostate gland (digital rectal exam), an ultrasound, and a blood test called «prostate-specific antigen»—a marker that guides us in assessing the prostate cancer risk for each person. The sum of these elements can help us to know which patient requires a prostate biopsy to obtain a more definitive diagnosis.
Prostate cancer is curable when detected early and confined to the prostate gland, where it can often be removed via laparoscopic or robot-assisted surgery techniques that are minimally invasive with better recovery results, less bleeding, and shorter hospital stays. There are also other treatments available, but the critical thing to remember is that prostate screening by a certified urologist is important for all men over 45, especially those with any risk factors.
Dr. David Rodriguez Osorio is a specialist in urology with offices in San Miguel de Allende and Queretaro. He can be reached at 415 152 2255, 415 566 0207, and at www.davidrodriguezurologo.com
