Number of prostate cancer cases on the rise in Chennai

Prostate cancer is the development of cancer in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. For long it has been considered a commonly prevalent kind of cancer in the Western nations. However, doctors say that it is equally common in India and that there has been an increase in the number of cases here. 

Dr Muruganandham K, senior consultant, Head of Urology, Global Hospitals says, “It is the fourth most common type of cancer in Chennai and comprises 4-5 per cent of total cancer cases.”

While symptoms show up in the form of urine output, flow and frequency, a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) level test can detect it early. He adds, “When detected early and when the cancer is confined to the prostate, a surgery —either a radical prostatectomy or a robot-assisted procedure— can help cure it. In high risk localised cases, hormone therapy or radiation can work. However, in the advanced cases, chemotherapy is the last resort. 

Therefore, it becomes imperative to spot it at the earliest and know of the risk factors like family history of the condition which increases the risk by three to six times.

Recent studies have pointed out that obesity and consumption of high fat diet raises the risk several notches. 

Dr Deepak Raghavan, a citybased urologist, says that increased prevalence is also due to the aggressive screening. He says that lots can be done on the preventive front as well. “A good diet, a fit physique, healthy food etc. can surely help you maintain a good prostate health,” he says.