Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cause of cancer and the sixth leading cause of cancer death among men worldwide. The cancer projection data shows that the number of cases will become double by 2020. In India too, it is the second most common cancer in Indian males as per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and various state cancer registries. The incidence rate in India is 9-10/100,000 population which is higher than other parts of Asia and Africa but lower than USA and Europe.
The government of India has already taken steps and the Centre has made it mandatory to get the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) examination which highlights the seriousness towards the disease. Medical treatment for PCa requires money but screening and treatment at central government hospitals like RML, AIIM and Safdarjung is free of cost. To discuss the issues related to prostrate health in India, healthcare stakeholders are observing September/October as Prostrate Health month across the country. In this regard BioSpectrum India spoke with Dr Raghunath S.K, Uro-oncologist, Healthcare Global Enterprises Limited about the role the companies can play in making cancer treatment affordable. Excerpts of the interview-
As cost is key factor when it comes for cancer screening, according to you how companies can play role in making this affordable?
Prostate cancer forms the second largest cause of cancer in Men, in India. Unlike western countries, in India we do not have the practice of undergoing prostate cancer screening in early 50s. Early detection is the key to better prognosis. To ensure that Prostate Cancer is screened at the initial stage, it important that healthcare providers should join hands and create adequate awareness through organising regular camps on PSA screening after the age of 50 for men in India, make it cost effective and increase the affordability by conducting cancer awareness and screening camps, offer value based treatment through accurate diagnosis and precise medicine.
What kind of precautions one can take to be healthy and free from Prostate cancer?
One can observe the following precautions from prostate cancer, by practising lifestyle changes like
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Engaging in physical activities like exercise, yoga, swimming etc
- Undertake dietary modifications such as reduce consumption of red meat, increase intake of fruits and vegetables. Usage of turmeric in routine cooked food is also advisable to lessen the possibility of prostate cancer.
Why urban men are diagnosed with prostate cancer more than the rural men?
Urban men are diagnosed with Prostate cancer more commonly than rural because of the following few reasons –
- Increased stress and work life misbalances
- Dietary and life-style habits
- Reduced physical activities
According to you what are the Importance of Cancer Screening in early 50s?
As widely followed that early detection is the key to better prognosis in Cancer Care, prostate cancer too, is also curable if diagnosed at the initial stage. In India, since regular cancer screenings are not commonly in practice, most of the cases we receive are only when the grade of the disease has progressed to a higher stage. Treatment started at an already higher stage of cancer involves longer stay in hospital, financial and emotional burden and abridged quality of life.
Through regular PSA tests, screenings and erectile examination, the conditions can be determined at a primary stage and hence, the treatment can be better planned with desired outcomes.
What are treatment options once a person is diagnosed with Prostate cancer?
We decide the treatment based on the patients’ age, risk involved, and grade of the disease / stage and of course patient preferences. Prostate cancer is treated through chemotherapy, Immunotheraphy, laparoscopic surgery or robotic surgery depending on various medical history of the patient. With technological advances in cancer care, robotic surgeries have been highly efficient compared to other forms of treatment, in curing prostate cancer and maintaining the quality of life post operation.
What are the advantages of robotic surgery in Prostrate Cancer and how it can comparatively cure prostate cancer in its initial stage without causing incontinence or affecting sexual functioning?
Robotic Surgery offers several advantages in the treatment of prostate cancer like
- Better quality of life post treatment
- Maintained sexual function as the nerves are preserved to perform regular functions
- Minimal blood loss during surgery and lesser scaring
- Regular activities resumes with a short span of time
- Recovery faster and begin on oral feeds, minimal walking around post operation
The advantage of robotic surgery involves improved ability to preserve the erectile nerves which helps in continuing sexual functioning. During an open prostatectomy through an incision on the anterior abdominal wall, the nerves that provide erection are hidden behind the prostate. The approach taken using the surgical robot enters the abdomen and the robotic arms are positioned posterior to the prostate with the nerves directly in front of the robotic/laparoscopic camera. In this way, the nerves maybe preserved, primarily because the anatomy can be seen more clearly compared to open surgery.
In addition, the decreased blood loss of the robotic approach improves the intra-operative visibility. As you can imagine, attempting to preserve delicate nerve structures can be quite challenging in the pool of blood versus in a relatively dry surgical field that is expected with the laparoscopic/robotic approach.