A European Association of Urology survey has revealed that around one-third of men believe they do not need to visit the doctor or undergo regular checkups and examinations, opting to seek medical attention only when they experience pain. Moreover, only 10 to 20 percent of men undergo preventive tests.
The Role of Prevention
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men. It occurs in the prostate gland, which surrounds the urethra – the channel that carries urine from the bladder to the outside. This cancer remains asymptomatic as long as it remains confined within the gland. For this reason, prevention plays a critical role in detecting and treating the tumor.
Moreover, as men age, they are prone to various prostate problems, such as urinary difficulties. Preventive examinations can enhance the quality of life by detecting such problems early.
The First Urological Examination
Prostate cancer typically develops after the age of fifty. As such, scheduling the first urological examination at this age is essential. The latest guidelines suggest conducting the first examination before age 40. It is recommended to start annual visits from the age of 50 only if the family history does not show any cases of prostate cancer and if the PSA (prostate-specific antigen, which is an index of prostate health) is less than 1ng/ml.
Preventive control is conducted through a blood draw, which measures the PSA levels, and an urological examination. The urologist collects the patient’s family, remote, and upcoming pathological history and evaluates the blood test results based on the data collected. If any changes or abnormalities emerge, it is appropriate to continue the investigation of prostate health with subsequent diagnostic examinations.
Prevention should be done annually until the age of 75. After that, it is recommended to perform the examination only in the case of dysuric symptoms.
Prostate Pathologies
The main pathologies that affect the prostate are prostate cancer, prostatic hypertrophy, and prostatitis. Prostate cancer and prostatic hypertrophy mainly affect men over the age of 50. In contrast, prostatitis – inflammation of the prostate – can affect patients ranging in age from 18 to 80.
Symptoms of Prostate Diseases
With aging, the prostate tends to increase in volume, partially obstructing urine expulsion. This phenomenon causes several symptoms, such as:
- Difficulty urinating
- Frequent need to urinate throughout the day
- Slow or weak urine stream
- Delay before urination
- Frequent need to urinate during the night
- Urinary hesitation and multiple voiding
These symptoms are also common with prostatitis. However, in this case, the symptoms are usually accompanied by suprapubic-perineal pain, urgency in urination, and issues involving erection and/or ejaculation.
Overall, it is crucial to undergo preventive urological examinations to detect and treat prostate problems early, especially for men over 50.