1 in 9 to 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with a prostate tumor during their lifetime/ShutterStock
On February 4, the world celebrates the International Cancer Awareness Day, which is designed to unite the world around promoting the fight against cancer in order to save the lives of millions of people thanks to early detection, adoption of a healthy lifestyle and tailored treatment.
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According to the publications of the Cancer Society, in 2024 there are expected to be 380 thousand people recovering from cancer in Israel.
We met for a conversation with Dr. Daniel Keizman, the director of the Urinary Tract Tumors Unit in the oncology unit of the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov), and we heard from him about prostate tumors, in which 2,500 men are diagnosed every year in Israel, the drug treatments and the chances of recovery.
There is room for cautious optimism.
Prostate cancer is the most common among men in the Western world.
In Israel, about 2,500 men are diagnosed each year.
1 out of 9 to 1 out of 6 men will be diagnosed with a prostate tumor during their lifetime, with the average age being between 60-70.
Prostate cancer is usually diagnosed at an early stage without metastases.
Sometimes the cancer is discovered only at an advanced stage, due to symptoms following the spread of the disease and metastases to distant sites in the body.
"In the early stages of the disease, sometimes there are no symptoms, which usually appear only in an advanced disease stage"/ShutterStock
"In an early disease stage without metastases, many patients recover"/ShutterStock
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
"In the early stages of the disease, sometimes there are no symptoms, which usually appear only in an advanced disease stage. About 20% of patients are diagnosed with metastases at some stage of their disease (from the beginning or after treatment of a non-metastatic tumor) and at this stage possible symptoms depend on the sites of the metastases, and include, for example, bone pain , weight loss and more".
How is the diagnosis made?
"Many cases are diagnosed at an early stage without symptoms due to a blood test that detects an increased level of the PSA marker (a protein secreted by the prostate gland). It is important to note that not all PSA increases are due to a prostate tumor. Other factors are benign enlargement of the prostate, and inflammation of the prostate. If suspicion arises For prostate cancer, the next step is sometimes performing a prostate MRI, and then performing a biopsy of the prostate, sometimes using the information produced by a prostate MRI (fusion biopsy). Finally, sometimes a PET PSMA test will be performed to diagnose or rule out the presence of disease sites outside the prostate."
What is the approach to early stage prostate cancer without metastases?
What side effect is noticeable in the treatment of the disease?
The first step in approaching an early non-metastatic prostate tumor is determining the degree of risk of the tumor, based on the level of the PSA marker in the blood, the Gleason index in the pathology report of the biopsy, the stage of the disease in the diagnostic tests, and sometimes information from genomic tests of the tumor tissue. The goal of treatment is, on the one hand, prevention The spread and progression of the tumor to the stage with metastases, and on the other hand maintaining the patient's quality of life, while reducing side effects from the treatment, for example impairment of sexual function."
As a result, there are several options to approach early-stage prostate cancer, including active surveillance without treatment (in low-risk tumors), surgery, radiation (with or without hormone therapy).
What are the lines of drug treatment in the advanced stages of the disease?
"The drug treatment for prostate cancer in advanced stages usually includes treatment to reduce the level of the male hormone testosterone, which is a major factor in the tumor process. Reducing the level of testosterone can be done surgically or medicinally (injections or pills).
In addition to treatment that reduces testosterone, additional treatments from the beginning or in later stages include Mainly chemotherapy, radioligands, advanced hormonal treatments, targeted treatments. In addition to the standard treatments, many clinical studies are also conducted that test new drug combinations. Some of the treatments are given in hospitals. It is important to follow the therapeutic sequence. It is important to verify if there is an interaction between the treatment and medical conditions or Treatments given for other medical conditions, and to consult as needed with the family doctor and the pharmacy teams."
What are the chances of recovery?
"In an early disease stage without metastases, many patients recover. In an advanced stage with metastases, even those who have not recovered can sometimes survive for years, as a result of the many treatments available today."
**The information is as of February 2024. For more information, please contact the attending physician.
***Provided as a service to the public by Estellas Pharma International B.V. (without involvement in the content).
In collaboration with Estellas Pharma without involvement in the content
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