In it Peruhe prostate cancer It is one of the diseases with approximately 8,700 cases registered annually, as well as the first cause of death in the male population of our country. In Lima alone, about 2,588 men die each year for not having preventive exams, much less early detection.
In this sense, to learn more about this type of cancer suffered by Christian Thorsen, an actor in the series “Al fondo hay sitio”, a specialist provided a series of insights.
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What is prostate cancer?
The prostate is a gland that produces a whitish fluid to protect and nourish sperm and is located in front of the rectum and below the bladder. He cancer that affects this organ, only men over 40 years of age suffer from it and it originates when the cells of the prostate gland begin to grow and multiply uncontrollably.
It is important to have checkups to prevent prostate cancer. Photo: American cancer society
What symptoms does prostate cancer have?
According to the urologist at the Santa Lucía Clinic, Carlos Valdivia Mestanza, the symptoms appear when the cancer is already advanced and there is difficulty urinating, frequent urgency in urination, as well as the presence of blood in the urine. “It is recommended to see a doctor and have a preventive prostate check-up for men who are over 45 years of age,” he specified. But what is a prostate check-up? According to the specialist, “it consists of a blood test, ultrasound of the bladder and prostate, as well as the inevitable digital rectal examination that is very important in the early diagnosis of prostate cancer.”
It is advisable to perform a digital rectal examination during a preventive check-up for prostate cancer. Photo: Healthwise
Is prostate cancer curable?
For the urologist, there is a cure for this type of cancer only if it is detected early, “in the first two stages (stages) of prostate cancer, a prostatestomía radical which consists of surgery to remove the entire prostate in its entirety”. However, when the cancer has already metastasized and affects other organs, such as the bones or lungs, “one of the alternatives is radiotherapy and surgical castration” reported the specialist.
Finally, he indicated that EsSalud hospitals have been carrying out campaigns for the early detection of prostate cancer in various polyclinics and men from the age of 45 onwards must have a medical check-up.