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The Experts Say - Men's
Health |
Killer Cancers: Manhood
Under Siege
Article contributed by:
Raffles Medical Group
Prostate cancer is a
malignant tumour of the
prostate gland, located
below the bladder and
surrounds the top part
of the urethra.
“When cancer develops in
the prostate, it may
spread through the
lymphatic system to
other parts of the body
such as the bones and
lungs. It is the
third most common cancer
in Singaporean men,”
said
Dr Fong Yan Kit,
Urologist at Raffles
Surgery Centre.
Early prostate cancer
has no symptoms but is
highly curable. As
such early detection of
prostate cancer is
critical. To
reduce risk of prostate
cancer, patients are
encouraged to stay fit
and lose weight as
obesity is linked to
higher prostate cancer
mentality. In
addition, certain drugs
and food have been shown
to reduce the risk.
These include Proscar,
Vitamin E, Selenium,
tomatoes and Soy
products.
Other than surgery,
radiation therapy and
chemotherapy, hormonal
therapy can also be used
to treat prostate cancer
that has grown after
surgery and radiation
therapy or to shrink
large tumours before
surgery and radiation
therapy.
“The reduction in the
level of male sex
hormones slows the
growth of cancer,” said
Dr Gilberto Lopes,
Medical Oncologist,
Raffles Cancer Centre.
“Hormonal therapy can be
done surgically or
through medication but
it may also cause a
variety of side
effects.”
Mr Wu Yue, Senior TCM
Physician from
Raffles Chinese Medicine
manages prostate cancer
patients by using herbs
as an adjunct to ongoing
biomedical treatment for
prostate cancer.
This can be done using
any or all of three main
approaches:
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1) |
Offset the
damaging
side-effects of
radiation and
chemotherapy. |
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2) |
Strengthen the
patient’s immune
system that has
been weakened by
the biomedical
treatment. |
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3) |
Aid in tumour
reduction,
potentially
shortening the
length of time
the patient
needs to receive
radiation and/or
chemotherapy. |
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Risk Factors
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Age |
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Race / ethnicity
(Americans and Indians) |
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Family history |
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Diet |
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Hormones |
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Symptoms
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Frequent urination,
or weak or interrupted urine flow. Pain or burning
during urination or blood in the urine |
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The urge to urinate
frequently during the night |
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Different symptoms
if the cancer has spread: pain in the back, weight loss,
fatigue |
Note: Symptoms are not
specific to prostate
cancer and could be
caused by an enlarged
prostate
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Screening Tests
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Prostate-specific
antigen (PSA) test |
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Digital rectal
examination (DRE) |
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Discuss screening
with your doctor |
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Article contributed by:
Raffles Medical Group
Dated: June 2011
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Raffles
Medical
Group is
a leading
medical
group and
the largest
private
group
practice in
Singapore.
As a fully
integrated
healthcare
organisation,
the Group
owns and
operates a
network of
family
medicine
clinics, a
tertiary
care private
hospital,
insurance
services and
a consumer
healthcare
division.
Patients of
the Group
enjoy a
continuum of
care, from
having their
most basic
healthcare
needs met
through the
Group’s
islandwide
network of
Raffles
Medical
clinics, to
specialist
and tertiary
care at
Raffles
Hospital. |
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