On 30 August 2025, Health Live@ Seniors today held a comprehensive session on prostate cancer. Dr Sony Mehta, a sebum urologist and andrologist, provided an in-depth overview of prostate cancer, its diagnosis, management, and prevention specifically targeted towards senior citizens.
The month of September every year is observed as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Prostate Cancer is said to be the second most common cancer in men, and a huge concern for senior citizens.
The discussion emphasised the importance of early screening using the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) profile blood test. The session also addressed common concerns such as hereditary risk, symptoms, the relationship between prostate enlargement and cancer, and lifestyle recommendations for prostate health. Dr Mehta underscored the importance of consulting medical professionals rather than relying solely on online information or AI tools and highlighted India’s accessible healthcare system for specialist consultations. The session concluded with a Q&A segment where various patient concerns were addressed, reinforcing the need for awareness, early detection, and personalised care for prostate cancer patients.
Here are some of the core points that were discussed:
- Prostate Cancer Overview and Awareness
- Prostate cancer is a significant health issue, especially among senior men in India.
- September is observed as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month to spread knowledge and encourage screening.
- Screening and Diagnosis
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing is the cornerstone of prostate cancer screening, recommended annually for men aged 50 to 75 (or from 40 if there is a family history).
- PSA test measures total and free PSA; the ratio helps improve cancer detection accuracy.
- Elevated PSA does not confirm cancer; further evaluation such as multiparametric MRI and PSMA PET-CT scans is necessary before biopsy.
- Biopsies can be ultrasound-guided, MRI-fusion, or a combination.
- Types and Progression of Prostate Cancer
- Prostate cancer is generally slow-growing with many treatment options.
- Gleason score from biopsy indicates cancer aggressiveness, guiding treatment decisions.
- Early-stage cancers may be managed with active surveillance, surgery, radiation, or chemo-radiation.
- Treatment Modalities
- Surgical options include open, laparoscopic, and robotic radical prostatectomy.
- Radiation and chemotherapy are alternatives or adjuncts depending on patient’s health and cancer stage.
- Hormone deprivation therapy is used in hormone-sensitive metastatic cancers.
- Newer drugs help in hormone-resistant or advanced metastatic prostate cancer.
- Risk Factors and Prevention
- Family history increases risk and necessitates earlier screening.
- No definitive lifestyle change prevents prostate cancer, but maintaining a healthy lifestyle (controlling obesity, diabetes, hypertension, avoiding tobacco and alcohol) reduces risk.
- Benign prostatic enlargement is usually non-cancerous but requires evaluation.
- Role of Technology and AI
- PSA screening and imaging advancements have improved early detection.
- AI and internet information can mislead patients; professional consultation remains essential.
- Healthcare Context in India
- India offers relatively easy access to super-specialists compared to many developed countries.
- Urban awareness and acceptance of PSA screening have increased significantly.
