Teach Middle East Magazine September 2014 Issue 1 Vol. 2 | Page 44

Prostate Health

PROSTATE AWARENESS MONTH…
THE LIGHT BLUE RIBBON OF HOPE
Dr Rishikesh Pandya

S

eptember is observed as
Prostate Awareness Month
in a number of countries
worldwide. During this time
persons are encouraged to wear a
light blue ribbon, which symbolises
hope for those who are affected by
prostate cancer. The idea is to
increase public awareness of
prostate health, educate
people about; the risk
factors and symptoms
of prostate related
diseases,
methods
of testing, possible
treatment
options
and what can be
done to potentially
reduce the risk of
developing prostate
related
diseases.
Prostate
cancer
has a serious impact
on
men’s
health.
It is a disease that
affects millions of men
worldwide. Let us take a
look at some key points to
keep in mind when focusing
on prostate health.
What is the Prostate?
The prostate is part of the
male reproductive system
that helps to make and store
seminal fluid. It is located
in the pelvis, under the
urinary bladder and in
front of the rectum. The
prostate
surrounds
part of the urethra,
which is the tube
that carries urine
from the bladder
during urination
and
semen

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September 2014

during ejaculation. Its location makes
it susceptible to prostate diseases that
often affect urination, ejaculation and in
very rare cases, defecation.
What are some of the signs of a
prostate problem?
Symptoms of non-cancerous (benign)
or cancerous (malignant) Prostate
problems tend to be similar. Some
of the signs that indicate a potential
prostate problem include; discomfort
and frequent visits to the bathroom
caused by an enlarged prostate gland,
delay in emptying the bladder or being
unable to pass urine at all. The latter
can cause the bladder to become full
to the point where it overflows with
extreme discomfort and pain into the
lower belly or back.
What is prostate cancer?
Cancer can develop in any part of
the body and the prostate gland can
develop it too. Prostate cancer is
classified as an adenocarcinoma, or
glandular cancer, that begins when
normal
semen-secreting
prostate
gland cells mutate into cancer cells.
Over time, these cancer cells begin to
multiply and spread to the surrounding
prostate tissue forming a tumour.
Prostate cancer, like any other cancer
if not detected early and not treated
appropriately can spread to other parts.
It is one of the most common cancers
that affect men above the age of 50
years old in many parts of the world. In
the UAE, within the Abu Dhabi emirate,
it has been reported to be the 3rd most
common cancer in men.
How do you determine if you have
prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer can be cured if it
is detected in its early stages. It is

After The Bell

important to keep in mind that the early
stages of prostate cancer may not have
any symptomatic signs or indications. It
is recommended that regular prostate
check ups and examinations by an
UroOncologist or Urologist be done.
The examination involves a digital
rectal exam (DRE) and the blood test is
called prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
blood test. If cancer is suspected,
a biopsy is offered expediently. The
only confirmatory test for diagnosis
of prostate cancer is a biopsy. This
involves the removal of small pieces
of the prostate for microscopic
examination by the pathologist.
Why is awareness of this disease so
important?
Naturally, information is power and
with prostate cancer it could mean
the difference between life and death.
Early detection increases the possibility
of curing the disease. It helps in
deciding the stage that the cancer is
at, options for managing and treating
it. Overall, it is best to speak with your
UroOncologist or Urologist to decide
the best treatment options fo