HYDERABAD: One of the most common cancers in men, the carcinoma of the prostate gland that has been prevalent in high income countries, is now rapidly increasing in India.
This is happening due to the changing lifestyles and increasing life expectancy.
However, the level of awareness among people is still less compared to the speed at which the disease is increasing.
According to Dr M Gopichand, DNB, M.CH, Urologist and Uro-Oncologist, the risk of developing prostate cancer increases exponentially with age where almost 70 per cent of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over the age of 65.
Other risk factors include race and ethnicity, lifestyle disorders, hereditary factors.
About 5 to 10 per cent of cases run in families, where the patient inherits a high risk of this type of cancer. Some studies have also indicated that men with sexually transmitted diseases too have a higher chance of getting afflicted with prostate cancer.
And the doctor confirms that early detection is the solution to the problem because early detection implies diagnosing of the cancer before it spreads to the prostate gland. When the latter happens, it becomes difficult to cure.
The symptoms of the disease also often occur at the advanced stage, by when it is too late to successfully treat it. This is why doctors recommend preventive screenings for people who fall in the higher risk category.
Also, in general following a healthy lifestyle is believed to reduce the risks of all cancers, including prostate cancer, where including a lot of vegetables and fruits in their diet, including more physical activity and maintaining a moderate weight can be helpful.