The sufficiency is there and maybe even something more. The subject is “prostate: cancer prevention” and the vote is for the Italians over 40, “questioned” by researchers of Elma Research for an investigation promoted by Europa Uomo Italia Onlus and Onda Foundation, presented today on the occasion of the launch of the second edition of the “QuiProQuo – Stop misunderstandings, yes to prevention” campaign. Which above all has one goal: to remember that early diagnosis must not be neglected even in this difficult period, in which all attention is focused on the emergency. Covid.
Good theory, poor practice
We come to the “report card”: 6 out of 10 respondents spontaneously indicate prostate cancer as one of the most frequent male cancers and only 3% do not know what it is. Furthermore, more than 7 out of 10 identify age over 50 as a risk factor, and 36% are aware that there may be a familiarity. Knowledge of the symptoms is also sufficient, although the absence of signals does not guarantee the absence of the tumor. The aforementioned disorders refer mainly to obstruction problems, which do not occur in the initial phase: 41% refer to frequent urge to urinate, 39% to difficulty in urination, 35% to an enlarged prostate. Good knowledge of early diagnosis tools: almost 8 out of 10 know the importance of the PSA dosage (79%) and 7 out of 10 know the importance of the urological examination (68%). It is a pity that theory does not follow practice: only 42% of the sample had in fact performed the PSA test (prostate specific antigen) and just 25% had at least checked by the urologist. What makes the difference seems to be whether or not to have a stable relationship: those who live in couples have in fact a greater propensity for prevention and controls. Almost all of them, however, postpone the knowledge of the function of the prostate, namely the production of seminal fluid. We close with a note of merit: the openness of all to greater information and awareness, especially by calling the general practitioner into question.
“Countryside Misunderstanding he wants to respond to this desire for information ”, he explains Maria Laura De Cristofaro, President of Europa Uomo Italia Onlus: “And, obviously, raise awareness among the male population to help them overcome the taboos, embarrassments, reluctance, which are the main obstacles to attention to urogenital health and the prevention of prostatic diseases. It is important that the campaign is restarted in such a difficult period because even in this emergency it is essential to continue not to delay checks. The data on the lack of knowledge of the prostate is also striking, which makes us reflect on the importance of also addressing young people ”.
We were 4 friends online: the new spot
This second edition of the campaign – prostataquiproquo.it – sees the actor and screenwriter again involved Francesco Paolantoni. The reluctant protagonist of last year’s sitcom this year is wiser and more aware, and in the new commercial “Paolantoni and Friends” he gives the test for the dosage of PSA to his 50-year-old friend. “I’m happy to lend my image to sensitize other men and I do it for myself too,” he says Paolantoni: “We know that men are reluctant to talk about the prostate with women, because male pride and the ghost of impotence come into play: This year, therefore, the suggestion is to also talk about it in the circle of your friends. I am convinced that the messages conveyed with irony arrive more effectively ”.
The numbers of prostate cancer
“In fact, it is much more difficult to carry forward information on men’s health than on women’s health,” he confirms Bernardo Rocco, Professor of Urology at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, director of Urology of Modena and president of the scientific committee of Europa Uomo Italia: “In Italy there are more than half a million men who have had a diagnosis of prostate cancer: let’s talk therefore of a phenomenon that needs a lot of capillary information. It is the male cancer with the highest incidence: in 2020 there were 36,000 cases and we noticed an increase in the incidence under the age of 50, which probably reflects a growth in interest in a younger age group ”.
Prostate, when the symptoms can no longer be ignored
Surveillance, robotic surgery, radiotherapy
The survey also shows a greater confidence of the male population towards the treatment of this pathology. In the case of diagnosis in the early stages and with a disease with a low risk of progression, the strategy of “active surveillance” is increasingly implemented, which is based on close monitoring of the PSA, the periodic repetition of prostate biopsies and the clinical visit to the in order to promptly detect any progression of the disease.
Prostate cancer, “My life under surveillance”
by Tiziana Moriconi
For intermediate-risk cancer confined to the prostate, on the other hand, one of the possible strategies is robotic surgery, which has allowed interventions that are less and less invasive and respectful of the patient’s functional aspects, such as urinary continence and sexual potency. The same surgery is also applied to high-risk tumors or to those locally advanced tumors, with a view to a subsequent possible multidisciplinary treatment of the disease. Radiotherapy also plays a central role: “In the initial illness, radiotherapy is a valid alternative to surgery, so much so that it is defined as virtual surgery”, he explains Barbara Alicja Jereczeck, associate of radiotherapy at the University of Milan and director of radiotherapy of the European Oncological Institute (IEO): “When the disease is locally advanced without metastases, a combined approach to radiotherapy and hormone therapy or surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy as a precaution is used. In cases of oligometastatic disease, selective targeted radiotherapy can be used on individual metastases and the patient has a good quality of life “.
Longform
Prostate, don’t forget men’s health
by Anna Lisa Bonfranceschi, Sandro Iannaccone, Tiziana Moriconi, Viola Rita
If the disease is advanced: the new drugs
At an advanced stage, on the other hand, hormone-suppressive therapy can be used, whether or not associated with chemotherapy. “Prostate cancer is a hormone-sensitive disease and in recent years important progress has been made in its pharmacological treatment,” he explains Massimo Di Maio, Associate of Medical Oncology of the University of Turin and National Secretary Aiom: “In particular, new generation hormonal drugs have been developed that are able to control the disease even for long years in case of previous resistance to first-line hormone therapy . Pharmacological progress has been accompanied by an improvement in survival and quality of life ”.
The role of women
To improve early diagnosis and reduce diagnoses at an advanced stage, we must first of all understand that the spectrum of this disease affects two universes “, underline the experts: one linked to the concern of having to start a potentially difficult path, the other linked to impact on one’s role in the life of a couple. “This is why the campaign is also aimed at women”, she concludes Francesca Merzagora, president of the Onda Foundation: “The health of the prostate should be considered an issue that affects the couple globally”.
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