Ultrasound scan showing prostate with signs of cancer
Cavallini James/BSIP SA/Alamy
As a man in my mid-50s, I’m starting to think about what will plague me in old age. One persistent worry is prostate cancer. I have a family history of prostate cancer, which puts me at high risk. I don’t have any major symptoms. Still, I probably should have gotten tested by now. But for years I’ve read that tests aren’t very accurate and can lead to unnecessary surgery with risks of incontinence and impotence. Also, people keep telling me that if I get prostate cancer, it’s unlikely that I’ll die from it.
I’m not the first person to be confused about prostate cancer and whether or not I should get screened for it, but these questions are becoming more important due to current alarming trends around the world. Recent projections suggest that prostate cancer cases are expected to skyrocket over the next 15 years, and if nothing is done, the number of deaths will also increase significantly.
But while the rise in cases is to be expected and reflects an ageing population, the rise in deaths is not. This is because in recent years we have begun to see changes in diagnostic tools. These tools are helping doctors identify the most severe forms of prostate cancer…
