• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Go to Expat Living Hong Kong
Get our Newsletter

Lifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living HomepageLifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living

Moving to Singapore and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Singapore.

Login Pelcro Shop

Menu
  • Living in Singapore
      • Living here
      • Property
      • Neighbourhood Guides
      • Work & Finance
        • What’s On: Things to do, what’s new and more
        • horoscopes for julyMonthly Horoscopes – December 2023!
        • What it’s like living near Braddell Road and Woodleigh Park
        • Christmas gift ideas for women of all ages!
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things to do
      • EL Events
      • Calendar
      • Competitions
      • Noticeboard
        • Ripple ClubWhat’s on this week and beyond
        • horoscopes for julyMonthly Horoscopes – December 2023!
        • Puzzle Pages – answers for December 2023!
        • Pan Pacific Orchard in Singapore - Christmas at Mosella and Florette8 ways to celebrate Christmas & New Year’s Eve
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Enrichment
      • Kids Things To Do
      • Mums & Babies
      • Schools
      • Tots & Toddlers
      • Tweens & Teens
        • Seriously cool children’s furniture & kids beds
        • Lylo car short-term car rental to Malaysia3 ways to simplify your routine transport needs
        • when to start preparing for SAT prep SingaporeHow to get good SAT scores?
        • Christmas gift ideas toys for kidsChristmas Gift Ideas for Kids – Toys, Clothes and More
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Furniture & Décor
      • Real Homes
        • Home News: New furniture, home décor & services
        • artwork where to buy paintings in Singapore artistsNeed artwork? Here’s where to buy paintings in Singapore
        • ideas for bathroom decorBathroom accessories – pretty & practical!
        • Affordable art in SingaporeBuying affordable art in Singapore – it is possible!
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Asia
      • Australasia
      • Rest Of The World
        • The Latest Travel News & Hotel Deals
        • Golf courses in Phuket golf resort golf packages in ThailandGreat golf courses and getaways in Thailand
        • Mandala Club: Niseko - ski-in, ski-out clubhouse in Niseko Village - best restaurantsIs this the coolest new club and restaurant in Niseko yet?
        • Avana Retreat Vietnam resorts cloud poolVietnam resorts high in the mountains!
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Asian Cuisine
      • Western Cuisine
      • Bars & Clubs
      • Groceries & Speciality Services
      • Recipes & Classes
        • New Nibbles: Foodie news!
        • Christmas dinners, drinks, ready-cooked turkeys and takeaways!
        • Christmas presents for himGifts for men and Christmas presents he’ll love!
        • Pan Pacific Orchard in Singapore - Christmas at Mosella and Florette8 ways to celebrate Christmas & New Year’s Eve
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
        • Beauty news: New beauty products, makeup and more!
        • Fashion News and Sales in Singapore!
        • professional stylistLife as a professional stylist
        • Christmas gift ideas for women of all ages!
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Dental
      • Fitness
      • Medical
      • Wellness
        • Health News: What’s up!
        • medical tourism international medical clinics Medical treatment overseasIs it worth heading overseas for medical care?
        • dental clinics teeth whitening kit whitening treatmentWhere to go for teeth whitening in Singapore?
        • prostate cancer men's healthMen: It’s time for a health screening!
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • PRINT MAGAZINE
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINE
    • Close

Prostate cancer: What to know

25th August 2021 by Amy Greenburg 4 Min Read

https://expatliving.sg/prostate-cancer-what-to-know-psa-test/

Prostate cancer is one the most common cancers among males. In fact, it’s the third most common cancer in men in Singapore. Here, two doctors answer all our questions about prostate cancer symptoms, screening methods such as the PSA test, risk factors and prostate cancer treatment options.

What is a prostate?

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located directly below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It’s part of the male reproductive system that produces secretions to protect sperm, explains DR LEE JANG FANN, Senior Consultant and urologist at StarMed Specialist Centre (12 Farrer Park Station Road).

Prostate cancer, he says, occurs when cells grow abnormally in the prostate. Most incidences of this type of cancer occur after the age of 50; the average age of men diagnosed with prostate cancer is 66. However, it’s important that all men are aware of the risk factors and warning signs, no matter their age. 

How common is this type of cancer?

About one in nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, explains DR TY HO, Deputy Medical Director of International Medical Clinic’s (IMC) Camden Medical Centre clinic (#14-05/06/07, 1 Orchard Boulevard). Luckily, this type of cancer can grow slowly, and most men diagnosed with it do not die from it. In fact, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS), it has the best survival rate among all cancers.

“The five-year survival rate for most men with local or regional prostate cancer is nearly 100 percent,” says Dr Ho. “For men diagnosed with prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, the five-year survival rate is 30 percent.”

prostate cancer

What are the risk factors?

“Prostate cancer is unusual, as there are no definitively proven preventable risk factors,” says Dr Ho. “Increasing age, Afro- Caribbean ethnicity and family history are the main risks. There is also some evidence to suggest higher rates in those who are overweight or smokers.”

Additionally, Dr Lee says eating excessive amounts of red meat can have an increased risk of prostate cancer. A healthy lifestyle, with lower meat consumption can therefore go a long way in helping to lower the risk.

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

Early prostate cancer is usually asymptomatic. However, more advanced prostate cancers can sometimes cause symptoms such as:

  • A painful or burning sensation during urination or ejaculation;
  • frequent urination, especially at night;
  • difficulty starting and maintaining a steady flow of urine;
  • blood in one’s urine; and
  • sudden onset of erectile dysfunction.

Some of these symptoms can also be due to benign enlargement of the prostate, which is very common but not associated with cancer. So, it’s important not to panic; discuss things with your doctor first.

Should all men be screened for prostate cancer?

Because this type of cancer can be “silent” in the early stages, it’s important to get checked – even if you have no symptoms, says Dr Lee. He recommends screening from the age of 45 for men with a family history of prostate cancer.

But, because this type of cancer is usually slow growing and treatable, some men feel that they don’t need to get screened. In fact, Dr Ho says uptake is poor in general, as many men are very reluctant to discuss this issue. However, it’s an issue that needs to be discussed. Dr Ho feels it’s a good idea for men to discuss screening with their doctors from the age of 50 to be safe.

PSA test for prostate cancer screening

What does a prostate check involve?

In addition to a discussion with your doctor, it involves a digital rectal examination. This allows your doctor to feel the surface of the prostate and look for any suspicious bumps or nodules. “While this may sound unpleasant, it is very quick, safe and could save your life,” says Dr Ho.

Sometimes, a blood test is also done. This is usually the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test, which allows for detection in the early stages while the disease is still asymptomatic, says Dr Lee; an elevated PSA level is often the first sign of prostate cancer.

However, he adds that the prostate specific antigen test can be affected by certain medical procedures and medications. It can also be affected by an enlarged prostate or a prostate infection. So, a high PSA level doesn’t necessarily mean cancer.

If the PSA test is abnormal, a newer test called Prostate Health Index (PHI) can be done to see if a biopsy is needed. “The PHI test allows us to reduce unneeded biopsies,” explains Dr Ho.

Additionally, if  cancer is suspected, further investigation may be warranted, says Dr Lee. This may include a multiparametric prostate MRI, which is a non-invasive method of looking for suspicious lesions in the prostate. It may also include biopsy to confirm the presence of cancer. Then, various prostate cancer treatment options can be discussed.

What are the options for prostate cancer treatment? 

In some cases, because prostate cancer can take many years to progress, doctors may choose to simply monitor the tumour rather than treat it immediately. This is because treatment depends on factors including the stage of the cancer, symptoms, age and the general health of the patient.

“There are good treatments available including surgery, radiotherapy and hormonal medication,” says Dr Ho. “The big challenge is that not all cases are aggressive or require treatment and much current research is focused on deciding between which men need aggressive therapy and those who can be safely monitored.”

If the cancer is confined to the prostate, Dr Lee says that both radiotherapy and the surgical removal of the prostate and surrounding structures are good treatment options with comparable cure rates. He says hormone therapy is often used as an adjunct in locally advanced cancer, too. And, if  the cancer has spread to other organs, hormone therapy and chemotherapy are plausible treatment options.

Of course, every case is distinct, and treatment options must be customised to the individual. All screening and treatment options should be discussed with a healthcare professional.

 

Found this interestsing? Read more in our Health & Fitness section.

Categories: Health & Fitness Medical Work & Finance Tags: Prostate Cancer starmed specialist centre

Amy Greenburg

Originally from Los Angeles, Amy is passionate about Netflix, sipping rosé at rooftop bars, travelling, and all things health and wellness-related. She enjoys learning about different health topics through her writing, particularly critical health conditions, food allergies, alternative therapies, and pregnancy and postpartum-related issues

You May Also Like

Vincitore formal shoes for guys

Step it up: 3 formal dress shoes for guys

Cigna black friday cyber monday health and wellbeing healthcare plan

Which health insurer prioritises health and wellbeing?

AMP Lab Singapore

How sports physiotherapy helps prevent cycling injuries

Primary Sidebar

  • Competitions
  • Noticeboard
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2023 Expat Living Singapore, All Rights Reserved.