Over 4,000 Bulgarians get prostate cancer every year

Over 4,000 Bulgarians get prostate cancer every year

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men and the fifth most common type of cancer worldwide. Data from the Global Cancer Observatory platform indicate that annually over 1 million men worldwide are diagnosed with prostate cancer. This equates to about 8% of all new cancers and over 15% of cancers in men. In Europe, 380,000 men are diagnosed each year, and nearly 100,000 die from the disease. In Bulgaria, 4,256 people are diagnosed with prostate cancer annually, and 1,119 die. As with many oncological diseases, this type of cancer also has no characteristic symptoms by which an accurate diagnosis can be made. Very often the disease is detected during preventive examinations. Risk factors for its development are age, family burden, environmental factors, as well as smoking and the use of alcohol in large quantities. It has been found that men who have a first-degree relative (brother or father) with prostate cancer have twice the risk of developing the disease. In addition, the incidence of prostate cancer escalates dramatically with increasing age. That’s why men over 55 should have a prophylactic examination with a blood marker test once a year and, if necessary, visit a urologist. Regular prevention, early diagnosis and timely treatment of prostate cancer are of key importance for a favorable outcome of the disease. In this regard, “Astellas Bulgaria”, the Bulgarian Oncological Scientific Society and PFC “Levski” are launching an information campaign “Together against prostate cancer”. As part of the campaign, two football-themed videos have been prepared to draw men’s attention to the fact that prevention is their “ticket” to continue enjoying life and attending the matches of their favorite team. November is World Men’s Health Prevention Month. The campaign focuses on men’s mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. Life expectancy for men is on average six years shorter than for women. Figures from the charity campaign Movember indicate that every hour 60 men around the world take their own lives.

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