PROSTATE CANCER IS AMONG THE MOST COMMON ONCOLOGICAL DISEASES IN MEN, ESPECIALLY OVER THE AGE OF 55, WITH ABOUT 1.3 MILLION NEW CASES IN THE WORLD EVERY YEAR, OF WHICH OVER 43 THOUSAND IN ITALY. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO PROMOTE PREVENTION AND REGULAR CHECKS TO IMPROVE EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS. LONGEVITAS INFORMATION CAMPAIGN IN NOVEMBER
Symptoms and diagnosis of prostate cancer
The prostate it is a small gland, similar to a chestnut, located under the bladder and responsible for producing part of the seminal fluid. When affected by a neoplasm, initial symptoms may be mild or even absent. Which hinders a timely diagnosis. In an advanced stage, however, the pathology can manifest itself with urinary problems, such as difficulty urinating, the need to urinate frequently, pain during intercourse and, in some cases, bone pain and erectile dysfunction.
The diagnosis is made through specific tests, including the prostate specific antigen test (PSA), rectal examination and, when necessary, a biopsy. The PSA measurement, however, does not always offer a clear answer, as high values can also be due to benign conditions.
Current treatments and the importance of prevention
Treatment options for prostate cancer depend on the stage of the disease and the patient’s overall health condition. The main treatments include surgery, which may involve total removal of the prostate (prostatectomy), radiotherapy and hormone therapy to reduce testosterone levels, a hormone that can promote tumor growth.
In recent years, the advent of robotic surgery and advanced radiotherapy techniques has improved the precision of interventions, reducing side effects. However, therapies can still cause significant impacts on patients’ lives, such as incontinence and sexual dysfunction.
To combat this pathology, Prevention plays a fundamental role: undergoing periodic checks allows for an early diagnosis, increases the chances of effectively treating the disease and reduces complications.
The Longevitas Foundation campaign
With the aim of raising awareness among men about the prevention of prostate cancer, the Longevitas Foundation he threw one information campaign for the month of November 2024.
The project, as explained by the president of the foundation Eleonora Selvifocuses on disseminating information and advice to encourage men to undergo regular check-ups. «It is the most common tumor among those affecting the male population – he recalled -. But today we live more and more with this pathology if we diagnose it early”.
The campaign is aimed mainly at men over 65 and includes a series of five conferences in Palermo, Bari, Rome, Milan and Turin, where urologists and industry experts will provide advice and recommendations on how to deal with this pathology.
The information will also be accessible through social media, website e newsletteroffering a digital platform that includes interviews with specialists and training content.
“We want people to be informed,” concluded Selvi, underlining the importance of widespread information to combat the male taboo that often hinders prevention.
Europa Uomo and the pilot project in Lombardy
Alongside the initiative of the Longevitas Foundation, theEuropa Uomo association has started a pilot project in collaboration with the Lombardy Region to introduce periodic screening for men between 50 and 69 years old, an estimated population of around 1.4 million people in this area alone.
«There has always been talk of a tumor of the brain’elderly, but in fact this is not always the case”, the president said Claudio Talmelli. «Currently, in Italy there are 574 thousand patients who are undergoing various treatments, with 43 thousand new cases and eight thousand deaths every year».
“Numbers that affirm a high incidence rate but an equally good survival rate: “this means that with this disease it can be healedwe live a long time, so much so that the survival rate of those affected by prostate cancer is 93% over 5 years and far exceeds 80% over 10 years”, the note specifies.
The lack of a structured screening program, such as those that exist for breast or colorectal cancer, makes it difficult to detect prostate cancer at an early stage. The targeted screening envisaged by the project in Lombardy focuses on high-risk groups, allowing for more accurate monitoring and timely interventions. But why do men underestimate this condition?
The problem is cultural. It is necessary to break the male taboo
In addition to medical barriers, there is also a cultural component that affects prevention. Many men are reluctant to get checked out for fear of facing virility or self-esteem issues related to sexual health.
«The most serious problems for patients undergoing therapy are erectile dysfunction’urinary incontinence”, observed Talmelli, underlining how these symptoms can weigh on the quality of life and lead many men to neglect their health.
Unlike breast cancer, where famous testimonials and awareness campaigns have contributed to promoting prevention, in the case of prostate cancer there is no public figure who represents and encourages men to face this path.
«It’s normal – in the United States – feel that Robert De Niro has prostate cancer, that other actors or famous people have prostate cancer, because it normally happens to men. There is no testimonial here and this is also one of our difficulties, that of finding someone who represents us and who can push the everyday man, the man in the street, to do prevention», explained Talmelli.
The importance of timeliness
In a context where prevention can make the difference between a peaceful life and a late diagnosis, it is It is essential to overcome taboos surrounding the prostate tumor. Talking openly about your health, getting informed and undergoing periodic checks are necessary steps to allow men to face the disease with awareness and dignity.
«Receiving a diagnosis does not have to mean the end of your quality of life: following a path of monitoring and timely treatment allows you to live fully, breaking the’isolation and fear that too often accompany this type of pathology».
Calendar of initiatives being updated:
First meeting: Palermo – 13 November, 4.30 pm – at the Circolo Auser Leonardo Sciascia, in via Nissa 1.
Second meeting: Bari – 02 December, 4.30 pm – at the Gea Cooperativa Social Senior Citizens Center in Via Dante 104.
This will be followed by stops in Milan (4 December), Turin and Rome.