Prostate cancer can grow silently with no symptoms, so doctors in Kolkata advise men to pay attention to prostate health once they pass 50, especially if cancer runs in the family. September is prostate cancer awareness month.

According to India's National Cancer Registry Programme, prostate cancer accounts for about 6.9 percent of cancers in men in the Kolkata registry, and roughly one man in 81 is at risk of it. ICMR figures show new cases in India rising from about 41,532 in 2020 to 47,068 in 2025.

Suman Mallick, a cancer specialist at Narayana Superspeciality Hospital in Howrah, said: 'After 50, men should understand their own risk and discuss prostate health with a doctor.' Treatment options are better when the disease is caught early, he said.

Specialists say difficulty starting to urinate, a weak or interrupted flow, frequent urination at night, blood in urine or semen, unexplained weight loss or lasting pain in the lower back or groin call for medical advice. These are not always signs of cancer, but they are warnings.

A family history of prostate cancer, or of certain breast and ovarian cancers, should be mentioned to the doctor. Whether to have a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test is also a decision to make with a doctor, they advise.

The report was written for Ei Samay by Anirban Ghosh and Ankita Das.

Source: Ei Samay