Between 30% and 50% of prostate cancer cases in Latin America are diagnosed in advanced or metastatic stagesan alarming reality that highlights the urgency of improving early detection systems and access to adequate treatments.
This figure contrasts strongly with Europe, where only between 5% and 10% of cases are detected in these stages, according to Antonio Alcaraz, head of the Urology service at the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona and specialist in uro-oncology, who recently visited Mexico.
According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer in the male population of the American continent.representing 21.7% of all cancer cases, followed by lung cancer (9.5%) and colorectal cancer (8%).
In Mexico, 25,000 new cases of prostate cancer are reported annuallywith more than 7,500 related deaths, making it the second most common cancer among men worldwide.
Early detection is crucial
Alcaraz stressed the importance of early detection, since diagnosis in early stages can lead to the cure of up to 80% of patients. In contrast, late detection dramatically reduces treatment options and increases mortality. “Early detection is key, because when diagnosed in early stages, up to 80% of patients can be cured,” he said.
Furthermore, even in cases where cure is not possible, there are treatments that can significantly prolong life if administered at earlier stages of the disease. The difference in results between European and Latin American countries is directly related to access to healthcare and public health programs, which in many regions of Latin America are insufficient.
Inequality in access to health
Unequal access to healthcare is a critical factor in the late detection of prostate cancer in Latin America. In lower socioeconomic status populations and in government public health systems, early diagnostic testing is less common, creating a serious asymmetry in patient management. “It is a question of access to healthcare… early diagnostic tests are implemented much less and that creates a serious asymmetry in the management of patients”highlighted Alcaraz.
Timely detection of prostate cancer not only depends on health infrastructure, but also on the training and awareness of first contact doctors. Alcaraz emphasized that these professionals must be alert to symptoms and risk factors, especially in men over 50 years of age. “Men over the age of 50 start to be able to get prostate cancer, one in 10 of us will have prostate cancer and of those who have it, 20% will die,” she explained.
Prevention is equally crucial. Men with a family history of prostate cancer have a significantly increased risk. Those with a parent who has had prostate cancer have a 25% chance of developing the disease, and if there are two immediate family members affected, the risk increases to 40%. For these individuals, early diagnosis is vital.
Finally, Alcaraz recommended that the general population lead a healthy life, avoid obesity and a sedentary lifestyle, improve diet and seek early diagnosis. The combination of prevention, awareness and access to early diagnoses can significantly change the landscape of prostate cancer in Latin America, saving lives and improving the quality of life of thousands of men.
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