Prostate enlargement may signal cancer, not just ageing, says expert
Unlike breast cancer, which can be detected through self-examination, prostate cancer is hidden and not visible.
MEN experiencing urinary problems should not dismiss them as normal signs of ageing, as they could also indicate prostate cancer, experts warn.
Sunway Medical Centre Urology Consultant and Head of Urology Sub-division, Professor Dr Tan Guan Hee, explained that while prostate enlargement is common in older men, it is not always linked to age alone.
"So when the prostate enlarges as we age, it could be a sign. It’s not always because of age. The prostate can enlarge because of prostate cancer as well," he said in a health forum held in Sunway Medical Centre.
Dr Tan described how the prostate gland, which sits just below the bladder, plays a role in urinary function.
"In a normal situation, this is the bladder, which stores the urine, and then there’s the prostate gland, which is immediately below the bladder.
"In a normal prostate gland, there’s no obstruction, so the urine flows very easily. But as the prostate enlarges for various reasons, there can be urinary problems," he explained.
He said that common symptoms linked to an enlarged prostate include frequent urination at night, difficulty in starting or stopping urination, weak flow, hesitancy and incomplete emptying.
"These symptoms are not always caused by ageing alone. They could be due to infection, disability or prostate cancer. That is why men should not ignore them," Dr Tan said.
He explained that, unlike breast cancer, which can be detected through self-examination, prostate cancer is hidden and not visible.
“Prostate cancer is hidden in the prostate and it is in an inaccessible place. Some people might not go and check it and therefore they might not find it.
"As opposed to, for example, female breast cancer, it’s very accessible, so you can actually feel it. But in males, the prostate is inside the body, so you can’t actually see it,” he said.
He also emphasised the importance of early detection through regular screening, especially for men over 50.
"Early prostate cancer is very treatable. It can be cured with surgery or radiotherapy. But when you present late, you encounter more problems. Once it spreads, you cannot cure it; you can only control it and there is a lot more financial burden,” he said.
Therefore, Dr Tan advised men to take proactive steps in monitoring their prostate health.
"See a urologist early, especially in men over 50. Fifty and above is some kind of arbitrary cut-off, but some people present earlier from family history. In general, 50 and above, you should get yourself screened. Do a regular check,” he said.
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