The month of November marks the movement to combat prostate cancer. Aligned with the objective of promoting awareness on the subject, the Meu Doutor Novamed clinic network, of the Bradesco Seguros Group, warns about the importance of prevention. According to data from the Ministry of Health, this is one of the most common types of malignant neoplasm in men.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death among the male population in Brazil, behind only lung cancer. According to data from the Ministry of Health’s Mortality Information System, from 2019 to 2021 there were more than 47,000 deaths due to the disease. Just last year there were more than 16,000 deaths as a result of this type of tumor, which represents about 44 deaths per day.
Data from men diagnosed with the disease are also high. Prostate cancer is considered the most common type among the male population, accounting for 29% of diagnoses of the disease in Brazil, according to INCA. Still according to the institution, 65,840 new cases of prostate cancer are expected each year, from 2020 to 2022. And how do you know if there is a problem with the prostate?
Urologist from the Meu Doutor Novamed clinic network in the Salvador (BA) units, Dr. Leonardo Trindade presents the step by step of an evaluation: “The first important point is to explain what the prostate is, which is a gland that only men have, located in the lower part of the abdomen. To find out if there is any alteration, we need to ask the patient some questions regarding urinary symptoms, in addition to requesting specific exams, depending on each case, such as PSA, prostate ultrasound, and digital prostate exam ( touch test)”, he explains.
Red sign: Stop and prevent
Among the main warning signs, the urologist highlights: “problems such as difficulty urinating, delay in starting and ending urination, presence of blood and decreased urine flow, as well as the need to urinate more often during the day or night , are signs that the doctor and patient should talk about in the office”.
According to the Brazilian Society of Urology (SBU), even in the absence of symptoms, men from 45 years of age with risk factors, or patients aged 50 without these factors, should go to the urologist to talk about greater care and for individualized evaluation.
“We also guide routine follow-up with the urologist, in order to detect early factors or signs that indicate a greater probability of prostate cancer”, comments Dr. Leonardo Trinidad.
Risk Factors and Care
Prostate cancer can strike any man. However, the incidence of this type of tumor is more commonly related to age and heredity. Regarding the main risk factors, the urologist from the Meu Doutor Novamed clinic network points out that the main proven agents for prostate cancer are:
– Age — Generally speaking, the older you are, the greater the risk;
– Family history — The hereditary factor has an even greater weight in cases of first-degree relatives affected by the disease.
The doctor also explains that there are no proven measures to effectively prevent prostate cancer, however, changes in habits can have a strong impact on the health of each individual. Among the main precautions for building a healthy life are:
– Regular physical activity;
– Balanced diet;
– Maintenance of body weight;
– Avoid addictions harmful to health.
In addition to building healthy habits, if discovered at an early stage, the disease has a 90% chance of being cured. According to INCA, early diagnosis can allow an effective treatment with coherent approaches, aiming at the integral health of men.
The Meu Doutor Novamed network
With 29 units in the country, the Meu Doutor Novamed network, which is part of Atlântica Hospitais e Participações, records more than 1.1 million consultations since the beginning of operations in 2015. It provides differentiated service, with appointments scheduled in 15 specialties — including the modalities of psychology, physiotherapy and speech therapy. Also, consultations on demand, without the need for prior scheduling, including the possibility for the patient to receive the medication in the unit itself in low-risk clinical situations. Among the consultation modalities, it also offers telemedicine service. Meu Doutor Novamed clinics also perform laboratory and imaging tests, rapid antigen tests for covid-19, in addition to outpatient procedures. They also provide the clinical history through the use of an integrated electronic medical record, guaranteeing quality and safety for the patient.