Prostate cancer is an abnormal growth that develops in the prostate gland, found only
in men. It begins when cells in the prostate gland start to grow out of control1.
Don’t wait. Get checked for cancer today.
About Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer Statistics
The 3rd most common cancer among men, accounting for
9.3%
of new cancer cases in Malaysian men in 20202.
Around
2,146
new cases
were diagnosed in 20202.
53.2%
of prostate cancers in Malaysia were diagnosed in stage IV3.
The relative survival rate for early stage prostate cancer in Malaysia is relatively high at more than
90%
but the rate drops dramatically to
43%
once the cancer progresses to advanced stage (stage IV)4.
Risk Factors5
Here are some of the factors that may increase your risk of developing prostate cancer:
Age – the chance of having prostate cancer rises rapidly after age 50. About 6 in 10 cases of prostate cancer are found in men older than 65
Genetic predisposition – inherited mutations of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes or Lynch syndrome can increase prostate cancer risk in men
Family history of prostate cancer
Signs and Symptoms6,7
Prostate cancer usually does not present any symptoms in its early stages. In fact, prostate cancer is diagnosed early only through screening7.
Advanced prostate cancer can present symptoms, such as6,7:
Frequent urination, more so at night
Erectile dysfunction
Abnormalities in urination – weak flow, blood in urine, pain or burning during urination
Pain or discomfort while sitting down
It is also common to experience these symptoms if the cancer has spread outside of the prostate gland7:
Pain in the back, hips, thighs, shoulders, or other bones
Fatigue
Water retention and swelling in the legs or feet
Changes in bowel movement
Unexplained weight loss
Kindly discuss with your healthcare professional if you notice any of these signs or symptoms.
Download a cancer screening voucher
Prostate Cancer Screening 8,9
Prostate cancer doesn’t usually show any symptoms at the early
stages. So, going for regular screening is very important and
could potentially save your life!
Here are some methods of prostate cancer screening:
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Test8,9
- A blood test to measure the level of PSA in the blood.
- PSA is a substance that the prostate produces. Men with prostate cancer typically have higher levels of PSA8.
- The PSA level in blood is measured in units called nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL)9.
PSA Level (ng/mL)9 |
Description9 |
| Below 4 | This is the PSA level for most men without prostate cancer. However, this is not a guarantee – about 15% of men with this PSA level have been found to have prostate cancer after a biopsy was conducted. |
| Between 4 and 10 | The “borderline range”. Men with this PSA level have a 1 in 4 chance of having prostate cancer. |
| More than 10 | There’s a 50% chance of having prostate cancer. |
- As one’s PSA level can be affected by various factors, your doctor is the best person to interpret your PSA test results.
- In many cases, if your PSA level is high, the doctor would run additional tests to confirm if it is prostate cancer9
Digital Rectal Examination (DRE)8
- An examination performed by a healthcare professional, by inserting a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to feel the prostate for abnormalities.
- Any bumps or hard areas could be a sign of cancer.
Diagnosing Prostate Cancer10,11
If the doctor suspects that a patient may have prostate cancer, the diagnosis may be performed by:
Imaging
- CT scan. Uses x-rays to take pictures inside the body to see lymph nodes and the area around the prostate, and to look for cancer that has spread to other areas.
- MRI. Uses magnetic fields to produce detailed images of the body.
- TRUS (transrectal ultrasound). Uses high-energy sound waves to form an image called a sonogram. This is to look for tumours in the prostate and nearby areas.
- Bone scan. Uses a radiotracer (a substance that releases small amounts of radiation) to produce images of the inside of bones. This is to look for bone damage caused by cancer, cancer treatment, or other health problems.
Blood tests
Biopsy
A procedure that removes samples of fluid or tissue to diagnose prostate cancer. For detecting prostate cancer, there are two typical biopsy approaches11:
- Transrectal biopsy. Performed by passing the needle through the wall of the rectum.
- Transperineal biopsy. Performed by passing the needle
through the perineum (the area between the anus and genitals).
Remember, early detection is key in our battle against cancer.
So, don’t wait.
Reference:
1.American Cancer Society. What Is Prostate Cancer?Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/about/what-is-prostate-cancer.html. Last accessed 17August 2021.
2. World Health Organisation (WHO). Malaysia (Source: Globocan 2020).Available at: https://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/populations/458-malaysia-fact-sheets.pdf. Last accessed 17August 2021.
3. Ministry of Health. Malaysian National Cancer Registry Report (2012 – 2016).Available at: https://www.moh.gov.my/moh/resources/Penerbitan/Laporan/Umum/2012-2016%20(MNCRR)/
MNCR_2012-2016_FINAL_(PUBLISHED_2019).pdf. Last accessed 17August 2021.
4. Ministry of Health. Malaysian Study on Cancer Survival (MySCan).Available at: https://www.moh.gov.my/moh/resources/Penerbitan/Laporan/Umum/
Malaysian_Study_on_Cancer_Survival_MySCan_2018.pdf. Last accessed 11 October 2021.
5.American Cancer Society. Prostate Cancer Risk Factors.Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html. Last accessed 17August 2021.
6. Cancer.net. Prostate Cancer: Symptoms and Signs.Available at: https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/prostate-cancer/symptoms-and-signs. Last accessed 17August 2021.
7.American Cancer Society. Signs and Symptoms of Prostate Cancer.Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-symptoms.html. Last accessed 17August 2021.
8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What Is Screening For Prostate Cancer?Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/prostate/basic_info/screening.htm. Last accessed 17August 2021.
9.American Cancer Society. Screening Tests for Prostate Cancer.Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/tests.html. Last accessed 3 September 2021.
10. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Prostate Cancer Early Stage.Available at: https://www.nccn.org/patients/guidelines/content/PDF/prostate-early-patient.pdf. Last accessed 17August 2021.
11.American Cancer Society. Tests to Diagnose and Stage Prostate Cancer.Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/how-diagnosed.html. Last accessed 11 October 2021.
Disclaimer
To learn if you are at-risk, contact 1-800-88-1000 For more information about hospitals: help@cancer.org.my
This site is intended for people at-risk of or living with cancer and members of the general public.
Date of preparation: September 2021 Please contact your doctor for advice if you are at all worried about any symptoms (or your medication).
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