by admin-blog-kh | July 1, 2026 1:21 pm
Most men regularly service their car, monitor their finances, and plan for retirement. Yet many overlook one of the most common health risks they may face as they grow older — prostate cancer. The challenge is that prostate cancer often develops quietly, without causing any symptoms in its early stages. By the time warning signs appear, the disease may have already advanced. The encouraging news is that modern medicine has transformed how prostate cancer is detected and treated, helping doctors identify which cancers need treatment and which can be safely monitored.
The prostate is a small gland located below the bladder. Prostate cancer usually grows slowly and, often, causes no symptoms at all in its early stages. A man may feel completely healthy while the cancer develops silently. Symptoms such as difficulty passing urine, a weak urinary stream, blood in the urine, unexplained weight loss, or bone pain generally appear much later.
However, silent does not mean hopeless. In fact, many prostate cancers detected today are highly treatable, particularly when found early. The key challenge is identifying which cancers are likely to cause harm and which may never become dangerous.
Screening for prostate cancer is a personal decision that should be discussed with a doctor. The most common screening tool is the PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) blood test.
For most men, conversations about screening should begin around the age of 50. Men with a stronger risk profile — including those with a father or brother diagnosed with prostate cancer, Black men, or those carrying BRCA gene mutations — may benefit from discussing screening as early as 40 to 45 years of age.
One of the biggest changes in recent years is that an elevated PSA result no longer automatically leads to a biopsy. PSA levels can rise for reasons other than cancer, including infection or an enlarged prostate. Doctors now use more advanced tools to assess risk before recommending invasive procedures.
Today, a high-quality MRI scan often plays an important role before deciding whether a biopsy is necessary. The scan can identify suspicious areas within the prostate and help determine whether further testing is required. If the MRI appears normal and other risk factors are low, some men may be able to avoid a biopsy altogether.
Additional blood and urine tests can also help estimate the likelihood of aggressive cancer. These advances are reducing unnecessary procedures and helping doctors focus on cancers that genuinely require attention.
When a biopsy is needed, many specialists now prefer the transperineal approach, which passes through the skin rather than the rectum and carries a lower risk of infection.
One of the most important messages for patients is that not all prostate cancers are treated the same way.
Doctors assess the cancer’s grade and risk level to determine the most appropriate course of action. Men with low-risk prostate cancer may be advised to undergo active surveillance rather than immediate treatment. This involves regular PSA tests, MRI scans and occasional biopsies to monitor the cancer closely while avoiding unnecessary side effects from surgery or radiation.
For cancers that are considered intermediate or high risk, treatment is usually recommended. Depending on the individual case, options may include surgery, radiotherapy, or a combination of treatments.
Even when prostate cancer has spread beyond the prostate, treatment options have improved dramatically. Hormone therapy remains the foundation of treatment, but doctors now often combine it with newer medicines that help men live longer and maintain a better quality of life.
Another major advance is genetic testing. Men with advanced prostate cancer are increasingly being tested for inherited and tumour-specific genetic changes, including BRCA mutations. Identifying these changes can lead to highly targeted treatments that were not available just a few years ago.
Radioligand therapies, such as Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy, are also changing the outlook for many patients by delivering treatment directly to cancer cells while limiting damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
At the same time, newer imaging techniques such as PSMA PET scans are allowing doctors to detect cancer spread more accurately than older scanning methods.
Awareness remains the most powerful tool. Men should understand their personal risk factors, including age and family history, and have open conversations with their doctors about screening. If a PSA test is elevated, asking about an MRI before a biopsy may be worthwhile. Men diagnosed with prostate cancer should discuss their cancer grade and risk category carefully, while those with advanced disease should enquire about genetic testing and newer treatment options.
Prostate cancer is common, but it is also one of the most manageable cancers when detected early. Advances in MRI scanning, genetic testing, biomarkers and targeted therapies are helping doctors provide more personalised care than ever before. Rather than fearing a diagnosis, men should focus on staying informed and taking action when needed. When it comes to prostate cancer, awareness, timely screening and informed decision-making can make all the difference[1].
Dr Shivraj Barathkumar[2]
Clinical Lead, Uro Oncology
Kauvery Hospital – Radial Road, Chennai[3]
Prostate cancer often causes no symptoms in its early stages. As the disease progresses, symptoms may include difficulty passing urine, a weak urinary stream, blood in the urine, unexplained weight loss, or bone pain.
Most men should discuss prostate cancer screening with their doctor around the age of 50. Men with a family history of prostate cancer, BRCA gene mutations, or other high-risk factors may benefit from starting these discussions between the ages of 40 and 45.
The PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) test is a blood test used to help detect prostate abnormalities, including prostate cancer. An elevated PSA level does not always mean cancer and may require further evaluation.
No. Elevated PSA levels can occur due to non-cancerous conditions such as prostate enlargement or infection. Many doctors now recommend a prostate MRI and additional tests before deciding whether a biopsy is necessary.
A prostate MRI helps identify suspicious areas within the prostate and improves the accuracy of diagnosis. It can also help some men avoid unnecessary biopsies when no significant abnormalities are found.
No. Men with low-risk prostate cancer may be managed with active surveillance, which includes regular PSA testing, MRI scans, and periodic biopsies to monitor the cancer without immediate treatment.
Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai (Alwarpet, Radial Road & Vadapalani), Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and paediatric trauma care.
Chennai Alwarpet – 044 4000 6000 • Chennai Radial Road – 044 6111 6111 • Chennai Vadapalani – 044 4000 6000 • Trichy – Cantonment – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Heartcity – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Tennur – 0431 4022555 • Maa Kauvery Trichy – 0431 4077777 • Kauvery Cancer Institute, Trichy – 0431 4077777 • Hosur – 04344 272727 • Salem – 0427 2677777 • Tirunelveli – 0462 4006000 • Bengaluru – 080 6801 68011
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