Prostate Cancer: Myths and Facts
Myth 1: Prostate cancer affects only older people
Fact : Although it is true that 70% of the patients diagnosed with prostate cancer are over 65 years, there are a considerable number of patients diagnosed in their 40s and 50s too. Age is not only the risk factor, there are other risk factors that increases person’s risk of prostate cancer :
- Family history: If any relative in your family has this disease, then your chances of getting it increases.
- Race: African-American men are more likely to get it than anyone else.
Myth 2: Prostate cancer always requires surgery or radiotherapy
Fact: Surgery cannot be an option always. For advanced-stage prostate, cancer medications will be used to control the disease. Mostly it is preferred when cancer has spread to other sites in the body like bones, lungs, brain, liver, and lymph nodes outside of the pelvis. But for the majority of the organ-confined prostate cancers need treatment either by surgery or radiotherapy.
Myth 3: Prostate cancer surgery will end your sex life
Fact: In the early stage of prostate cancer, it does not cause any problem-related sex ability. During a later stage, it may or may not affect your sexual ability. It varies from patient to patient. Treatments like hormone therapy, radiation therapy may also affect sex life.
If you have any trouble, ask Dr. Mangesh Patil about treatments for this. There are medications and devices that can help. He will suggest you the right treatment.
Myth 4: Prostate cancer will always present with urinary symptoms
Fact: It is not necessary that person having prostate cancer always has urinary symptoms. A raised PSA, abdominal pain, swelling in the feet, bony pains can all indicate prostate cancer depending on the extent of disease in the body.
Myth 5: Prostate cancer is always curable
Fact: Prostate cancer is highly curable when diagnosed early, and the cancer is confined to the prostate only. If it is prostate cancer after it has spread beyond the prostate, then it’s more difficult to cure.
If you have any query regarding prostate cancer, contact the best urologist in Mumbai, Dr. Mangesh Patil.
