Prostate cancer awareness: Experts emphasize early diagnosis and risk factors

Medical experts are highlighting the importance of early diagnosis for prostate cancer, which is the second most common cancer among men in Turkey after lung cancer. While often associated with older age, the disease can also affect younger men, particularly those with specific genetic risk factors.

Specialists note that individuals with a family history of prostate, breast, ovarian, or pancreatic cancer should consider screening starting as early as age 40 or 45. While PSA blood tests are a common screening tool, experts emphasize that they cannot entirely replace physical rectal examinations, as some conditions may not be detectable through blood tests or imaging alone.

Common symptoms that require medical attention include blood in the urine, difficulty urinating, and back or flank pain. Although Turkey does not currently have a national screening program for prostate cancer, doctors recommend that men over 50, or those in high-risk groups, undergo regular evaluations to improve survival rates through early intervention.