Prostate cancer: evaluation and treatment in Cuauhtémoc

What it is

It is the most common cancer among Mexican men. In many cases it grows slowly and causes no discomfort for years; some tumors may never even cause serious problems. But others do grow and spread faster, so detecting the disease and evaluating it properly makes a big difference in the options available (U.S. National Cancer Institute).

The main challenge in Mexico is not a lack of treatments, but late detection: most men see a doctor once the disease is already advanced, often out of embarrassment or the belief that "if it doesn't hurt, there's no problem." Getting checked on time, with simple tests, lets you make decisions calmly and with more alternatives (Secretaría de Salud, gob.mx).

Risk factors

• Age: the most important factor; the risk rises clearly after age 50, and most cases are diagnosed in men over 65.
• Family history: having a father or brother with prostate cancer increases the risk, especially if they had it before age 65.
• Family history of breast or ovarian cancer (inherited mutations such as BRCA).
• Ethnic background: men of African descent have a higher risk.
• Possibly, obesity and a diet high in animal fats (the evidence is less firm than for other factors).

Source: American Cancer Society in Spanish.

Warning signs / common symptoms

In its early stages, prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms. When discomfort appears, it may include:

• Trouble starting to urinate, or a weak or interrupted urine stream.
• Needing to urinate very often, especially at night.
• Blood in the urine or in the semen.
• Burning or pain when urinating.
• Persistent pain in the hips, lower back, or pelvis.
• Difficulty emptying the bladder completely.

Important: most of these problems are far more often caused by benign prostate growth (hyperplasia), which is not cancer, or by urinary infections. Only a doctor can determine the cause. If you have any of them, come in for an evaluation.

Source: American Cancer Society in Spanish — signs and symptoms.

How it is detected and diagnosed

• Evaluation appointment: the oncologist reviews your history and your symptoms (if any) and performs the appropriate exam, which may include a digital rectal exam, a brief exam that allows the doctor to feel the prostate.
• Prostate-specific antigen (PSA): a simple blood test that measures a protein produced by the prostate. An elevated value does not automatically mean cancer (it also rises with benign growth or inflammation), but it guides the doctor on whether more tests are needed (NCI — PSA fact sheet).
• Imaging tests: when required, tests such as ultrasound or MRI are ordered to evaluate the gland.
• Prostate biopsy: if the tests call for it, small tissue samples are taken from the prostate. It is the only test that confirms the diagnosis and shows how aggressive the tumor is.

At the Unidad de Oncología Menonita you can have the evaluation appointment, the PSA test, the complementary studies, and the biopsy, and receive an explanation of your results with a clear plan.

Treatment options

Treatment is decided based on age, overall health, PSA level, biopsy results, and how far the disease extends. For some very slow-growing tumors, the appropriate medical option may be active surveillance (close follow-up with periodic tests, without treating right away).

What the unit offers:

• Cancer surgery: removal of the prostate (prostatectomy) in selected cases.
• Hormone therapy: prostate cancer usually depends on male hormones to grow; these medicines reduce or block their effect and are a central tool in many cases.
• Chemotherapy: used mainly in advanced stages or when hormone therapy is no longer enough.
• Targeted therapy: for patients whose tumors have certain genetic alterations, specific medicines are available.
• Palliative care: pain control (for example, when bones are affected) and support for quality of life at any stage.

What we say honestly: radiation therapy is one of the main options for treating localized prostate cancer, with results comparable to surgery in many scenarios. The unit does not have radiation therapy; if your case requires it or you prefer it as an option, we refer you to radiation therapy centers in Chihuahua City and coordinate the follow-up of the rest of your care.

Source for treatment options: NCI — prostate cancer treatment.

Early detection / prevention

The American Cancer Society guidelines recommend that every man talk with his doctor about the pros and cons of screening, using these ages as a reference:

• At age 50: men at average risk.
• At age 45: men at high risk — a father or brother with prostate cancer before age 65, or men of African descent.
• At age 40: men at even higher risk (more than one first-degree relative with prostate cancer at an early age).

Screening combines the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and, at the doctor's discretion, the digital rectal exam. If results are normal, the test is usually repeated every 1 or 2 years depending on the PSA level (American Cancer Society in Spanish — screening recommendations).

There is no proven way to prevent prostate cancer, but keeping a healthy weight, exercising, and eating a balanced diet supports overall health.

Frequently asked questions

Is the prostate exam painful or embarrassing? The main test is a simple blood sample (the PSA). The digital rectal exam, when indicated, takes a few seconds and is done professionally and privately. A few minutes of discomfort can make the difference between detecting on time and detecting late.

My PSA came back elevated — do I already have cancer? Not necessarily. PSA also rises with benign prostate growth, inflammation, or infections. An elevated result means it needs to be studied, not that there is cancer. Come in for an evaluation so the oncologist can interpret it together with your medical history.

If nothing is bothering me, why get checked? Because in its early stages this cancer almost never causes symptoms. By the time discomfort appears, the disease is usually more advanced. Regular checkups starting at age 50 (or 45 with a family history) exist precisely to stay ahead of it.

Related treatments