PROSTATE CANCER
What is prostate cancer?
The prostate is a gland located between the penis and urinary bladder in men, and surrounds the urethra. Prostate is affected by two age-related proliferative disorders: benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is slow-growing type of cancer that can be cured with appropriate treatment methods if diagnosed at an early stage.
What is the incidence rate of prostate cancer?
According to World Health Organization data, each year 1.3 million people across the globe and 17,300 people in Turkey are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year.
What are the risk factors for prostate cancer?
Heredity and age are major risk factors for prostate cancer. Prostate cancer risk is higher in people with a family history of prostate cancer, and the risk of developing prostate cancer increases with age. In addition, a diet rich in fatty foods, smoking and sexually transmitted diseases are also risk factors.
How is prostate cancer diagnosed?
Although prostate cancer can have symptoms such as difficulty urinating, blood in the urine, burning sensation while urinating and back pain due to bone metastasis, it usually does not produce any symptoms in earlier stages. As a general rule, it is recommended that every man after the age of 50 (or 45 in case of a family history of prostate cancer) is recommended to undergo prostate exam and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening once a year. When prostate cancer is suspected, ultrasound-guided biopsy may be done to confirm the diagnosis.
How is prostate cancer treated?
As with almost every cancer, prostate cancer is staged as soon as a definitive diagnosis is made Patients may be treated with surgery or radiotherapy if the cancer is confined to the prostate, or with chemotherapy combined with hormonal treatment if it has metastasized.
BREAST CANCER
What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is an uncontrolled, abnormal development of mammary gland cells, and is seen most frequently in women and rarely in men. It may be confined in the breast or spread to other parts of the body over time. It usually metastasizes to brain, liver, and lung.
What is the incidence rate of breast cancer?
According to World Health Organization data, each year 2.1 million people across the globe and 22,000 people in Turkey are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women, both worldwide and in Turkey.
What are the risk factors for breast cancer?
Being female, increasing age, family history of breast cancer, personal history of breast cancer, being Caucasian, having dense breasts with more connective tissue than fatty tissue, beginning period at a younger age, beginning menopause at an older age, radiation exposure to breasts, obesity, a diet rich in red meat, smoking and drinking alcohol are risk factors for developing breast cancer.
How is breast cancer diagnosed?
Usually, the first sign of breast cancer is a lump in the breast. There may be other symptoms such as nipple discharge, the nipple turning inward, scaliness, or a lump in the armpit. The sooner breast cancer is diagnosed, the better the chances of treatment being successful. Frequent self-conducted breast exams are crucial. Generally, women are recommended to have a mammogram once a year after the age of 40. In suspected cases, tests such as mammography, ultrasonography and MRI can be used for diagnosis. Definitive diagnosis of breast cancer is only possible through biopsy.
How is breast cancer treated?
Treatment options vary according to tumor size, spread, the physical condition of the patient, age and preference. The main treatments for breast cancer are surgery, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, biological treatments and supportive therapy.
COLORECTAL CANCER
What is colorectal cancer?
Colorectal cancer is the cancer of the colon, or the large intestine, and the rectum, which is the last 15 centimeters of the large intestine. Colon and rectal cancers are often referred to as colorectal cancer.
What is the incidence rate of colorectal cancer?
According to World Health Organization data, each year 1,850,000 people across the globe and 20,000 people in Turkey are diagnosed with colorectal cancer each year. Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in Turkey and the world.
What are the risk factors for colorectal cancer?
Being overweight, lack of regular physical activity, a diet high in red meat, smoking, drinking alcohol, increasing age, colorectal polyps, inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, certain genetic syndromes, personal history of breast, ovarian or endometrial cancer in women, personal history of colorectal cancer and family history of colorectal cancer are risk factors.
How is colorectal cancer diagnosed?
Colorectal cancer usually has no symptoms in early stages, but advanced colorectal presents symptoms such as changes in bowel habits, a sensation of incomplete evacuation after defecation, blood in stool, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, weakness and fatigue. Most colorectal cancers start as a polyp on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. For this reason, screening is essential for early diagnosis and detecting polyps before they become cancerous. Colonoscopy is recommended beginning at the age of 50 for people without any symptoms or family history of colorectal cancer. Colonoscopy should be repeated every 10 years if no polyps are found. If polyps are found, the colonoscopy should be repeated every one, three or five years depending on the number and pathological type of the polyp. Persons with a family history of colorectal cancer are recommended to begin screening at the age of 40. Screening is recommended from the age of 15-18 for people with family history of hereditary mixed polyp syndrome.
The diagnosis of cancer is made by biopsy taken during endoscopy. After the diagnosis is confirmed, cancer is staged using imaging. Treatment is planned according to stage.
How is colorectal cancer treated?
The main treatments for colorectal cancer are surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Regular screening, being a healthy weight, reducing red meat consumption and adding more plant based and high-fiber food into the diet, exercising, and quitting smoking and alcohol consumption.
