Treatment for prostate cancer depends on the stage. In early cases, surgery to remove the prostate may offer a complete cure.
Treatment for prostate cancer depends on the stage. In early cases, surgery to remove the prostate may offer a complete cure.
Hyderabad: The recent diagnosis of U.S. President Joe Biden with stage 4 prostate cancer at the age of 82 has sparked global concern—and for good reason. According to Dr. Sirandas Arun, Consultant Urologist at the Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology (AINU), Biden’s case should serve as a powerful wake-up call for elderly Indian men, especially those over the age of 70.
“Prostate cancer is often silent. By the time symptoms appear, the disease may have already spread, just like in President Biden’s case,” explains Dr. Arun. Biden’s cancer, which had metastasized to his bones, was discovered only after he experienced urinary symptoms and back pain.
“In India, most elderly men ignore these signs or self-medicate without consulting a specialist,” says Dr. Arun. “This is more common in rural areas, where elderly men often live apart from their families and lack access to proper urological care.”
Typical symptoms of prostate cancer include frequent urination (especially at night), weak or interrupted urine flow, blood in urine or semen, and the feeling of incomplete bladder emptying. Yet in over 90% of cases, the disease is asymptomatic in the early stages.
Dr. Arun emphasizes the importance of early screening through a simple blood test—the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test—which costs around ₹800 to ₹1,000 and delivers results in 6–8 hours. “This basic test can be lifesaving. If the PSA levels are high, we follow up with imaging like MRI or a prostate biopsy,” he adds.
Though U.S. guidelines advise against routine PSA testing in men over 70, Dr. Arun advocates for a more individualized approach in India. “Given our demographic and healthcare access challenges, we recommend men start PSA screening annually from age 50—or from 45 if there’s a family history.”
Treatment for prostate cancer depends on the stage. In early cases, surgery to remove the prostate may offer a complete cure. For more advanced stages, like in Biden’s case, hormone therapy is used to control the disease and slow its progression.
“Prostate cancer is typically slow-growing, which gives us a window to act—if detected early,” concludes Dr. Arun. “Elderly men must not ignore urinary symptoms. Awareness, early testing, and timely treatment are the keys to a long and healthy life.”
Indian Data:
The incidence rate of prostate cancer in India varies by region, with an overall estimated rate of around 9 per 100,000 men. Some regions, like Delhi, have higher rates (12.4 per 100,000), while others, like North East India, have lower rates (e.g., 3 per 100,000 in Mizoram).
At our institution of all prostate cancers we often see 60 to 70% early prostate cancers and 30 to 40% advanced prostate cancers.
Dr. Sirandas Arun, Consultant Urologist at the Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology (AINU)
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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