[Click! Health] Prostate Cancer Patients Increase by 45% in 4 Years... Importance of PSA Testing

Photo by Asia Economy DB

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] The number of prostate cancer patients in South Korea is rapidly increasing. According to data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of prostate cancer patients in the country rose from about 75,000 in 2017 to 110,000 last year, marking a 45% increase over four years. With the acceleration of population aging, the number of prostate cancer patients is expected to continue rising.

According to the "2017 Status of Prostate Cancer Incidence in Koreans," jointly released by the Korean Urological Association and the Korean Society of Urologic Oncology, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men worldwide, following lung cancer. Among OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries, it ranks first as the most common cancer in men. In this year's statistics from the Central Cancer Registry, prostate cancer ranked fourth in the number of male cancer cases in South Korea, but its rate of increase is relatively rapid.

The prostate is a reproductive organ located just below the male bladder, responsible for producing and secreting part of the semen and prostate fluid. Prostate tumors are divided into benign tumors, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, and malignant tumors, such as prostate cancer. Prostate cancer originates in prostate cells and can spread to nearby organs such as lymph nodes and lungs. It is especially known for its tendency to metastasize to bones, which can cause severe pain requiring narcotic analgesics and may lead to paralysis of the lower body.

In the early stages of prostate cancer, symptoms are rarely noticeable. As the cancer progresses, urinary difficulties such as difficulty urinating, pain, and hematuria may appear, and in the final stages, acute urinary retention may occur, making it impossible to urinate at all.

Complex factors including lifestyle, environment, and genetics influence the development of prostate cancer. Age is the most significant risk factor, with incidence rates sharply increasing as age advances. There is also a strong correlation with underlying diseases. Patients with diabetes have a 1.29 times higher incidence of prostate cancer, those with hypertension have a 1.45 times higher incidence, and those with dyslipidemia have a 1.4 times higher incidence. Obesity also affects prostate cancer risk; men with abdominal obesity, defined as a waist circumference of 90 cm or more, have a 1.32 times higher incidence compared to men with normal waist sizes.

Fortunately, PSA testing can relatively easily determine the presence of prostate cancer. PSA, an enzyme produced by the prostate, increases in the blood when prostate disease occurs. If PSA levels exceed the normal range, prostate ultrasound and biopsy are performed to confirm the presence of cancer. Sometimes, prostate MRI is conducted first, and biopsies are performed only on suspicious areas.

Nevertheless, it was found that about half of prostate cancer patients are diagnosed only after the cancer has progressed to stage 3 or higher. Stage 3 indicates that the cancer has already spread beyond the prostate to surrounding organs. According to a survey titled "Initial Diagnosis Experience and Quality of Life of Prostate Cancer Patients in South Korea," released by the Korean Society of Urologic Oncology on January 4, among 212 prostate cancer patients surveyed, 47.1% (100 patients) reported being diagnosed at stage 3 or higher at the time of initial diagnosis.

Yang Seung-chul, head of the Department of Urology at Gangnam Bedro Hospital, recommended, "Men aged 50 and older should undergo annual PSA testing regularly even if they have no symptoms, and those with a family history should start testing from age 40."