As of: January 26, 2024, 6:01 a.m
By: Sophia Lother
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Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death among men in Germany.
A new study now looked at early detection.
Frankfurt – Around 70,000 men in Germany develop prostate cancer every year.
Statistics from the Center for Cancer Registry Data show that, for example, over 15,000 deaths were recorded in 2020.
This type of tumor therefore occupies a sad top spot.
It is the most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer death in the male population, according to the German Cancer Research Center (dkfz).
On average, one out of every seven men can expect to receive this diagnosis in their lifetime.
The risk of developing prostate cancer shifts with increasing age.
A new study has now looked at the benefits of early detection examinations.
A meta-study looked at the early detection options for prostate cancer.
(Symbolic photo) © BSIP/Imago
Prostate cancer presents with different symptoms: These are the warning signs
Early warning signs and symptoms that indicate this type of cancer are rare.
According to the dkfz cancer information service, prostate cancer often does not cause any symptoms in its early stages.
Even in the advanced stages, there are not always reliable symptoms.
According to dkfz, the following possible warning signs can indicate advanced prostate cancer:
Blood in semen or urine
Frequent urination and discomfort during urination such as urinary retention
Discomfort and restrictions during sexual intercourse
If prostate cancer has spread, pain in the bones is possible
Detecting prostate cancer: New study on early detection published
In order to detect prostate cancer as early as possible, it is possible to have it scanned during a medical examination.
In Germany, men aged 45 and over are offered this through a statutory early detection program and are therefore also covered by their health insurance.
Patients, however, have to pay for a blood test themselves.
The PSA test determines the prostate-specific antigen in the blood.
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A current meta-study from the Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna
now shows that rectal palpation may have significantly less benefit than previously thought.
For their meta-analysis, the researchers at the University of Vienna examined a total of eight studies with around 85,000 patients.
The experts published the results in the journal
European Urology Oncology
.
“The power of the rectal examination in detecting prostate cancer is not particularly impressive, suggesting that it may not be necessary to perform this examination routinely as part of screening in the absence of clinical symptoms and signs,” explains study leader Shahrokh Shariat in a contribution from the Medical University of Vienna.
According to the researcher, the results would open a new discussion about the usefulness of tactile examination.
More research is needed to find the best method for early prostate cancer detection.
“We certainly hope that by abolishing this barrier, more men will go for prostate cancer screening,” emphasizes Shariat.
Advantages and disadvantages of PSA testing for prostate cancer
It is still unclear how the results of the study affect the early detection of prostate cancer.
It is important, however, that experts also see disadvantages in blood tests for prostate-specific antigen.
The cancer information service of the dkfz
explains
on its website that there is always a risk of a false-positive or false-negative test result.
In addition, it is possible that slow-growing tumors that “probably would not have required any treatment” will also be discovered.
On the other hand, the PSA test makes it possible to detect prostate cancer very early, which significantly increases the chance of recovery and significantly reduces the risk of metastases and death from cancer.
You have to weigh the risk personally.
Accordingly, experts recommend a so-called risk-adapted PSA screening, i.e. a blood test depending on a man's personal risk.