Most Americans do not know this important fact on prostate cancer at an early stage

Each year, more than 300,000 men receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer in the United States, and more than 35,000 die from the disease, making it the second most final cancer of men.

If it is captured early, the disease is very treatable, but patients rarely experience symptoms in the early stages, which is why screening is so important.

However, 80% of Americans ignore that prostate cancer at an early stage often shows no symptoms, According to a recent survey commanded by the Ohio State University Consistent Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCC – James).

“It is unfortunately not surprising,” said Jairam Eswara, MD, president of Urology at the MEDICAL CENTER TUFTS Health. “It is really important for everyone to realize that prostate cancer is asymptomatic to the late stages, and that almost person has prostate cancer at an early stage has symptoms.”

The purpose of the investigation, according to Edmund Folefac, MD, medical oncologist at OSUCC – James, was to “assess the conscience” of the Americans of the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer “, which can inform experts of the need for education to illness.

“The more men are aware and open up to their health problems, the better,” said Folefac.

In early August, the SSRS research office interviewed 1,004 adults aged 18 and over in the United States and weighted data to represent the general population of American adults.

The results have shown that 80% of respondents do not know that prostate cancer at an early stage often presents without physical symptoms.

The investigation also revealed that:

• 59% did not realize that sexual dysfunction can be a sign of prostate cancer.
• Black adults were more likely to identify some of the less known symptoms of prostate cancer, such as fatigue (33% of black adults compared to 24% of white adults) and weight loss (30% against 20%).
• Black adults were less likely than other racial / ethnic groups to identify that prostate cancer at an early stage often has no symptoms (12% against 21%).

In the early stages of prostate cancer, the disease is generally confined to prostate, so that the tumor does not block neither neighboring organs – nor causes symptoms, said Eswara.

“Because it is deeply in your body, it is not easy to determine whether someone has prostate cancer or not,” he added. Screening generally implies a blood test or a rectal exam.

The absence of symptoms causes health care providers: “[It] Make people think that they are not at risk of prostate cancer when in fact, they therefore lead to the reluctance to be tested, “said Eswara.

Although most men do not have symptoms of prostate cancer, there are some signs to be monitored for which the subsequent stages of the disease may, in particular:

• Difficulty starting the urination.
• Low or interrupted flow of urine.
• Uriner often, especially at night.
• Difficult to completely empty the bladder.
• Pain or burn during urination.
• Blood in urine or sperm.
• The pain in the back, the hips or the pelvis that do not disappear.
• Painful ejaculation.

However, many of these symptoms can also be caused by conditions other than prostate cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, men should consider screening for prostate cancer from age::

• 50, if they have an average risk of illness.
• 45, if they are African-American or have a first degree parent (father or brother) diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age (under 65).
• 40, if they have more than a first degree parent who had prostate cancer at an early age.

However, there is no general screening recommendation. Patients must speak to their health care providers of their individual risk for disease and the advantages and potential risk of screening.

Eswara said men can postpone screening due to fears of prostate procedure or cancer, but given the lack of symptoms, screening is “critical”.

“I strongly encourage anyone who suffers from a prostate to speak to his doctors of prostate cancer screening,” he said. “This is a quick and painless process that could potentially save their lives and have an impact on their families.”