Do you know 1 in 8 men are being diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime? Prostate cancer is a severe disease for many adult men. It’s the second most common cancer in men worldwide, and the risk of developing it increases in elderly men. The disease starts when cells begin to grow out of control in the prostate gland. The 5-year survival rate for prostate cancer in India is 64%. Old age, obesity, improper diet, and genetic alterations have been identified as some of the main contributing factors towards an increased cause of prostate cancer. We at Medicircle are conducting interviews with some prominent specialists/ doctors to be aware of this problem of prostate cancer which will help you deal with it.

Dr. Ashish Sabharwal is a Senior Consultant in Urology / Andrology and Robotic Surgery and has about 20 years of experience in this field. He is currently working at Apollo Hospital, Delhi. His special expertise is in Robotic Surgery to treat Prostate Cancer, Laser surgery for Enlarged Prostate, laser surgery for Kidney stone, treatment of erectile dysfunction including Penile Implants. Dr. Ashish is Prostate Cancer Treatment and Robotic Surgery Expert. He has Performed over 2,000 + successful robotic prostate surgeries. Dr. Sabharwal is actively involved in training and proctoring urologists and prostate surgeons across the country and internationally.

Incidences of prostate cancer

Dr. Ashish says, “Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men worldwide. The incidences of new cases are more than breast cancer. 20 in 100 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer if screened for PSA. Prostate cancer has a genetic basis. So, if your father or brother is having prostate cancer, the risk doubles. Last year, 30,000 patients died of prostate cancer in the US. 

Dr. Ashish speaks, “Prostate gland is walnut-sized which is located in the junction of the urinary bladder and urinary passage. Its main function is the nourishment of sperm. It is generally present in males.

Symptoms

Dr. Ashish emphasizes, “The symptoms of benign and cancerous prostate largely overlap. Common symptoms are – Frequent urination, especially during the nighttime, trouble starting urination, or stopping urination once in progress, blood in urine, frequent infection. One should not ignore the problem of urination, it can be a case of cancer. So, if any male experiences these symptoms, do consult a Urologist on an urgent basis.

Prostate cancer - Diagnosis

Dr. Ashish explains, “The diagnosis of prostate cancer can be done by PSA screening. It is a simple blood test. All men after their 50 should get tested for PSA level. Normal PSA level is 4 ng/ml. If this is elevated, then there may be a risk of prostate cancer. But a high value of the PSA test does not necessarily mean prostate cancer, it can be because of other factors like BPH (Benign Prostatitis Hyperplasia) or infection. In that case, a biopsy is performed further to confirm the presence of cancer. MRI can also be performed to know the severity of the disease. 

Prostate cancer - Treatment

Dr. Ashish mentions, “There are different treatments available for different stages. Stage I (where the cancer is limited to glands), can be treated with Robotic surgery. In this, the prostate gland is fully removed. For further stages, where cancer has spread to other body parts, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy can be used for the treatment. 

Dr. Ashish concludes, “Robotic surgery is the standard treatment for prostate cancer. It is the safest and controlled surgery for prostate cancer. 

Advantages of Robotic surgery – Less bleeding, less pain, and quicker recovery.

(Edited by Renu Gupta)