Why is prostate cancer screening so important?

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men in ‎the Middle East, but due to a lack of understanding of the ‎importance of screening, it is often diagnosed at a late stage.‎

A curable cancer ‎

Prostate cancer is often curable, but catching the disease early is ‎key.‎ With incidence rates so high in the region, experts at Cleveland ‎Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Oncology Institute are aiming to raise awareness around the ‎importance of routine screening and early detection. ‎ If prostate cancer is caught in the earliest stages, when it is ‎localized to the prostate, it can usually be cured. But the problem ‎is that there are often no prostate cancer symptoms in the early stages, ‎which is why routine screening is so important. ‎

Symptoms of prostate cancer

With no prostate cancer symptoms in the early stages, most men only notice signs of the disease at a later stage. They may notice a need to urinate frequently at night, have difficulty urinating, notice a weak or interrupted flow of urine, or have painful and burning urination. Other symptoms might include painful ejaculation, blood in semen or urine, and frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or extremities.

How do you screen for prostate cancer? ‎

Prostate screening is done via a simple blood test called a ‎prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. PSA is a protein ‎produced in the prostate gland, and when levels within the blood ‎increase, can be an indication of prostate cancer and can also give ‎an indication of your lifetime risk of developing the disease. Other ‎factors can affect PSA levels, such as inflammation or age, so if ‎your levels are high, doctors may perform a prostate biopsy to ‎determine the exact cause. A prostate biopsy involves taking a ‎small sample of tissue from the prostate gland for analysis.‎

Who should attend prostate cancer screening? ‎

Every man over the age of 45 should attend routine prostate ‎cancer screening. If you have any other risk factors for the ‎disease, such as a family history, or if you are overweight, ‎screening should begin earlier. Other factors may put you at an ‎increased risk of prostate cancer, so talk to your doctor about ‎screening at your next check-up. ‎

Men’s health check-ups should go beyond routine prostate cancer ‎screening. Although men often struggle to prioritize preventative ‎health, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi recommends that all men over ‎the age of 40 see a urologist regularly, to take charge of their ‎prostate, urinary, and sexual health. A urologist can help identify ‎any issues early, and provide guidance on how to manage them, ‎as well as offering advice on lifestyle changes that can help ‎improve quality-of -life. ‎

Remember, prostate cancer is a common disease, but one that is ‎curable if caught early. Often with no symptoms to look out for, a ‎simple blood test could save your life.‎

Book your prostate cancer screening today.