Oncourologist called the analysis that helps to detect prostate cancer

The increasing incidence of prostate cancer in Russia and other countries is one of the key problems in oncology, especially among older men. Alexander Sysoev, oncourologist at SM Clinic, told Izvestia on June 17 about which laboratory analysis helps to detect prostate cancer.

As the specialist pointed out, prostate cancer is one of the oncodiagnoses, which often becomes known too late. In Russians, the disease is usually diagnosed at the third or fourth stage in almost 40% of cases, which makes treatment much more difficult and less effective.

"The disease rarely makes itself felt before the age of 40, but after 50 the risk of prostate cancer increases rapidly. This is clearly confirmed by statistics: by the age of 80, malignant changes in the prostate gland are found in 80% of men. And men with genetic inheritance can develop prostate cancer even at the age of 40," explained Sysoev.

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And what problems do their families face during this multi-year process?

Like breast cancer in women, prostate cancer in men in its early stages usually does not send clear signals. Often, a tumor is detected accidentally — as part of preventive examinations, since clinically the disease can "disguise" itself as prostate adenoma or chronic prostatitis. First of all, urination disorders and a feeling of squeezing in the lower abdomen, to which men do not always respond properly.

"Most cases of prostate cancer at an early stage are found during routine examination. Unfortunately, there are simply no specific signs by which the patient can suspect the disease himself," the expert commented.

He strongly recommended not to ignore your body's signals and to undergo preventive screenings more often.

A blood test for PSA (prostate-specific antigen) helps to detect a dangerous disease at an early stage, when the tumor has not yet metastasized to neighboring organs. The doctor explained: it is a protein produced by prostate cells, the level of which can increase with oncological and benign changes in the tissues of the male reproductive organ. The classic limit of the PSA norm is considered to be the level of 4 nanograms/ml. But in recent years, Russian and foreign oncologists have been inclined to lower the threshold of its level to 2.5 nanograms/ml, especially for men under 50 years of age.

The doctor emphasized that it is important to evaluate not only the absolute value of PSA, but also its growth rate. An annual increase in blood protein of more than 0.75 nanograms/ml should alert patients. However, a high PSA level is not a verdict in itself: in a quarter of cases, it may not signal cancer, but, for example, adenoma or chronic prostatitis.

Therefore, for a more detailed diagnosis, oncologists use the "gold" standard for detecting prostate tumors - PSA analysis, rectal finger examination and transrectal ultrasound. If there are suspicious changes, a multifocal biopsy is additionally performed under ultrasound control and anesthesia. The results of such a comprehensive examination make it possible to confirm the diagnosis and determine the degree of malignancy of the tumor, which significantly affects further treatment tactics.

"Prostate cancer is a very difficult cancer, despite the different opinions in the scientific community. A favorable prognosis and effective treatment largely depend on timely diagnosis and prevention. Don't forget about it, please," the doctor advised.

Earlier, on April 16, SM-Clinic oncologist Vadim Maklakov told Izvestia about which people are more susceptible to melanoma than others. According to him, red-haired people have an almost four times higher risk of developing melanoma than dark-haired people.