JAKARTA - Efforts to treat prostate cancer are increasingly becoming a major concern in the medical world, considering that this disease is one of the most common types of cancer that attacks men.
The first and most crucial step in treatment is early detection, which allows treatment to be carried out before cancer develops further and spreads to other organs.
Citing information from Everyday Health, Dr. Douglas Dow, an urologist from Memorial Hermann Medical Group in Webster, Texas, explains that routine screening using PSA blood tests (Prostate-Specific Antigen) and digital rectal testing is very helpful in identifying prostate cancer early on.
Most of the men diagnosed with prostate cancer were in their early stages, but about 5 to 7 percent had experienced cancer spread to other parts of the body (metastasis) when they were first diagnosed, said Dr. Tudor Borza, assistant professor of urology at the University of Michigan.
According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is classified from stage 1 where cancer cells are still very small to stage 4, namely when cancer has spread beyond the prostate gland, even to the bone. Prostate cancer that has reached its bones is generally in stage 4 and is no longer considered cured.
"In general, when prostate cancer is in advanced stages, treatment is not aimed at healing, but slows down its development," explained Dr. Borza.
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Prostate cancer is triggered by the hormone testosterone, and most cases initially respond to hormone-reducing androgen therapy. Dr. Bilal Siddiqui, an oncologist from the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas, added that when hormone therapy is no longer effective, cancer will continue to grow even though testosterone levels have been suppressed.
The choice of treatment for prostate cancer patients which continues to include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and other supportive treatments. The main focus on advanced cases is extending life expectancy and improving the patient's quality of life.
A similar case has been experienced by the former President of the United States, Joe Biden, who is reported to be suffering from aggressive prostate cancer with a score of Gleason 9 and the spread to the bone. According to experts who are not directly involved in his treatment, prostate cancer at this level is very difficult to cure.
"A disease like this can be controlled, but it cannot be completely eliminated," said Dr. Siddiqui.
Thus, education about the importance of early detection and access to proper treatment is very important in an effort to minimize the impact of prostate cancer on the patient's life.
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