Prostate cancer: Men urged to prioritise regular screening

Doctors highlight signs, symptoms and why early detection is critical

- BY SAJILA SASEENDRAN Chief Reporter

In the wake of former US President Joe Biden being diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, doctors in the UAE are urging men to take note of the symptoms, understand the risks, and prioritise regular screenings for one of the most common cancers affecting men globally.

The prostate is a gland that produces some of the fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. Globally, more than 40 per cent of men are estimated to develop prostate cancer at some point in their lives. Prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and the fourth most common overall, according to the World Health Organisation.

How does it start?

It starts when cells in the prostate grow abnormally and crowd out normal tissue, said Dr Rishikesh Ramesh Pandya, consultant uro oncologist and robotic urosurgeon at Burjeel Medical City, Abu Dhabi.