Portugal prostate cancer awareness urges men to act on silent symptoms

Prostate cancer is the second most common tumor among men worldwide, with about 1.4 million new cases each year and projections of up to 2.9 million diagnoses by 2040. In Portugal the disease accounts for roughly 7 500 new cases annually. Health experts note that many men ignore early warning signs—such as frequent nighttime urination, difficulty starting or stopping the flow, weak stream, and a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying—treating them as normal ageing and delaying medical consultation.

During prostate‑cancer‑awareness month, Recordati Portugal promotes the platform prostata‑hbp.pt and calls for regular screening from age 50 (earlier for those with a family history). Specialists stress that PSA testing and digital rectal examination remain essential, and that early diagnosis greatly improves treatment options and prognosis. Risk factors include age, family history, excess weight, sedentary lifestyle and certain genetic traits. The campaign also seeks to break the stigma and psychological barriers that keep men from seeking urological care.