Silent Danger: Understanding Prostate Cancer in Vietnam

Prostate cancer is a common disease among men over the age of 50, often silently progressing for many years without any symptoms. If detected early, it can be cured. The prostate gland is located between the penis and bladder and serves several functions, including producing fluid, transporting sperm, and secreting prostate-specific antigen (PSA) to aid in semen liquidity and urine control.

According to the Global Cancer Organization (Globocan) statistics for 2022, prostate cancer is the fourth most common cancer worldwide and the second most common in men. In Vietnam, there are nearly 6,000 new cases and 2,800 deaths reported annually. Early stages of prostate cancer typically do not present symptoms and can only be detected through screening tests. If symptoms do appear, they may include difficulty urinating, frequent urination (especially at night), weak urine stream, blood or semen in the urine, pain during urination or ejaculation, and pain in the back, hips, or pelvis. Advanced prostate cancer may not show symptoms but may include bone pain, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue.

Certain risk factors such as age (risk increasing after age 50), family history of cancer genetic mutations diet obesity smoking alcohol abuse exposure to chemicals prostatitis sexually transmitted diseases increase the likelihood of developing prostate cancer. Screening for prostate cancer typically involves a blood test to measure PSA levels followed by a biopsy to confirm the presence of cancer cells. Early diagnosis and treatment offer the best chance of success as late-stage cancer can spread to other parts of the body resulting in death. Men over the age of 40 with a family history of cancer genetics mutations or other risk factors should consider proactive screening for prostate cancer while those without risk factors should begin screening around age 45 to facilitate early detection timely treatment