Blue November is an international movement that takes place during the month of November to reinforce the importance of awareness and prevention of prostate cancer. This type of cancer is the second most common among Brazilian men and the main victims are men over 50 years old, and people with the presence of the disease in first-degree relatives, such as fathers, brothers or sons.
What is prostate cancer?
During the functioning of the prostate, which is a male gland located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum, some cells can develop and multiply abnormally, causing the appearance of a tumor.
According to INCA, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men (behind only non-melanoma skin cancer). It is estimated that 68,220 new cases of the disease will occur in the country in 2018. The estimated risk is around 66.12 new cases for every 100,000 men.
When to see a doctor?
When experiencing signs and symptoms of prostate cancer, including: difficulty urinating; decreased urine flow; need to urinate more often during the day or at night; and blood in the urine. The disease can be detected through clinical, laboratory or radiological tests (early diagnosis).
How is prostate cancer diagnosed?
The PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test is performed annually to monitor specific changes in the prostate. The result, when altered, may indicate situations such as inflammation, infection, hyperplasia (benign growth) and also the emergence of prostate cancer.
The purpose of a digital rectal exam and PSA test is to indicate the need for a prostate biopsy (removal and analysis of fragments of the gland, the only way to confirm a suspected case of cancer). Tests are recommended when signs and symptoms are present, as recommended by the Ministry of Health.
Early detection of prostate cancer
According to the National Cancer Institute, early detection of cancer is a strategy to find the tumor in its initial phase and, thus, provide a better chance of treatment.
According to INCA, detection can be done through investigation, with clinical, laboratory or radiological exams, of people with signs and symptoms suggestive of the disease (early diagnosis), or with the use of periodic exams in people without signs or symptoms (screening), but belonging to groups with a greater chance of having the disease. In the case of prostate cancer, these exams are the digital rectal exam and the blood test to assess the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) dosage.
According to INCA, there is no scientific evidence that prostate cancer screening brings more benefits than risks. Therefore, the Institute does not recommend routine exams for this purpose. If men actively seek screening for this type of tumor, the Institute recommends that they be informed about the risks involved and the possible lack of benefits of these routine exams.
Early diagnosis of this type of cancer enables better treatment results and should be sought by investigating symptoms such as:
- Difficulty urinating
- Decreased urine flow
- Need to urinate more often during the day or at night
- Blood in urine
- Most of the time, these symptoms are not caused by cancer, but it is important to have them investigated by a doctor.
Text prepared with information from the National Cancer Institute
