Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer in men
While emphasizing that early diagnosis is life-saving in prostate cancer, the importance of urinary complaints and personalized screening processes was highlighted.
Urology Specialist Op. Dr. Mehmet Kürşad Pekdemir, in a statement made within the scope of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, stated that prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer in men worldwide, and drew attention to the importance of early diagnosis, urinary complaints, and personalized screening processes.
Current data worldwide
According to data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, prostate cancer is recorded as the second most common type of cancer in men worldwide. In 2024, more than 1.5 million new cases were seen globally, and approximately 420,000 people lost their lives due to this disease.
Urinary complaints should not be attributed to old age
Newly starting or progressively increasing urinary complaints should not be neglected. Conditions such as difficulty in urination, weakening of the stream, or frequent urination may stem from benign prostatic hyperplasia, but one should not delay consulting a doctor by considering these symptoms as a natural consequence of old age.
It may not show symptoms in the early stage
The absence of any complaints in the early stage can be misleading. The lack of urinary complaints does not mean that a person does not have prostate cancer; therefore, instead of consulting a doctor only when complaints arise, risk factors such as age and family history must be taken into account.
PSA test alone is not sufficient
The PSA blood test used in the evaluation of prostate cancer is one of the important tools, but it alone does not provide a definitive cancer diagnosis. High PSA levels can also stem from non-cancerous conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostate inflammation.
Personalized screening approaches
Focusing solely on the PSA test in prostate cancer screening may not always be sufficient. Planned screening models that take personal risks into account play an important role in reducing unnecessary diagnoses and treatments.