DHA advocates importance of prostate disease awareness.

Authority urges men to undertake regular screenings

Dubai hospital sees one to two new cases of prostate cancer per month and 50 per cent of cases are in advanced stages of the disease.

United Arab Emirates, Dubai, September 26, 2013: The Dubai Health Authority's (DHAs) urologists advocated the importance of early detection for prostate diseases in line with the Global Prostate Cancer Awareness month which is marked in September every year.

Dr Fariborz Bagheri, Urologist at Dubai Hospital said: “Presently, in the Middle-East region, we find that prostate diseases are neglected and this causes serious problems among men. There is a lack of awareness about prostate cancer and other prostate diseases in the region. This, despite the fact that worldwide, prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men, and after lung cancer, prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer related deaths in men.”

Dr. Bagheri said the aim of this program is to educate people about prostate diseases and to encourage early screening. “In many ways prostate cancer is a silent disease, it goes unnoticed for years because there are no apparent signs and symptoms of the disease. Therefore, it is recommended that men above 50 years undergo screening tests and men who have a family history of cancer should begin the screening from 40 years of age.”

He added: “Emphasis on early screening is vital because if detected in time, prostate cancer can be completely cured, however, if detected later on, it can only be treated and not cured.”

Dr Bagheri said that such patients have to endure lifelong treatment.

He said that Dubai Hospital receives on an average one to two new cases of prostate cancer every month, and 50 per cent of these patients have advanced stage of cancer.

He said Dubai Hospital treats on an average 120 cases of prostate cancer per year. “Unfortunately, we find that more than 50 per cent of our patients come to us in their advanced stage of prostate cancer. Therefore, awareness and early screening is essential. In many western countries , prostate cancer cases are detected earlier  and on an average they receive only 10 to 20 per cent cases in the advanced stage. Education and awareness is one of the major reasons for this.”
 
He said besides prostate cancer, the other common prostate disease includes prostate inflammation which mostly affects adolescents and younger men. “If this disease is undiagnosed or diagnosed late, it may result in erectile dysfunction or cause fertility problems in men. Adolescents with symptoms such as frequent urination, burning during urination may have prostate inflammation and early diagnosis and treatment prevents further complications.”

He said that 25 per cent of men between 15 to 25 years  suffer from prostate inflammation.  “Along with medication, we strongly recommend increased intake of fluids and  advice patients to empty their bladder as soon as they get the urge to urinate. Controlling urination will further complicate the problem.”

Bagheri said that more than half of the men above the age of 50 years, have prostate enlargement with some form of urinary symptoms such as weak urinary stream etc.

“For such patients, medical and surgical treatment is available and the key to success is early detection and acceptance that treatment is required. Often patients do not want to undergo treatment due to possible side effects which include decreased amount of semen excretion. Also, sometimes patients have a misconception that treatment can lead to erectile dysfunction which is not the case, in fact treatment can significantly improve overall function.  However, delay in treatment, may result in impairment of kidney function, formation of stones and bladder dysfunction.”

He urged men, especially those with a family history of cancer, to undertake screening regularly.
For further enquiries, please contact Dubai Hospital at 04-2195000 or call our toll-free number 800 342.