This week we begin a fortnightly series called ‘Urology and You’ by Satyendra Persaud MBBS DM (Urol) of the Department of Urology, San Fernando General Hospital, Trinidad and Tobago. Dr Persaud, who is Guyanese, recently completed his training in urology at the University of the West Indies.
This is the first piece of a series on prostate cancer. I opted to start with prostate cancer since, given its prevalence (1 in 8 men will develop prostate cancer in his lifetime), chances are that we all know someone who is afflicted. It is a disease which is very variable in its presentation and in fact, often has no symptoms. I think it is important that we all have at least a working understanding of the disease
Prostate cancer is a concern in the Caribbean where large sections of the population are of African heritage. Research has shown that the incidence and mortality of prostate cancer are among the highest in the World. Although Afro-Caribbean men are at higher risk, men of all races may be affected. Men with a family history of prostate cancer are also at high risk
Symptoms
The man with prostate cancer may have no symptoms. Other common symptoms of prostate