Global Surge in Prostate Cancer: Symptoms and Solutions

Prostate cancer is rapidly emerging as one of the most prevalent malignancies affecting men worldwide. While historically less common in South Asia, Bangladesh is currently witnessing a steady rise in diagnoses. This surge is attributed to a combination of increasing life expectancy, rapid urbanisation, dietary shifts, and enhanced diagnostic capabilities. However, as the patient burden grows, the medical community is raising urgent questions regarding the nation's readiness to manage this escalating health crisis.

The Diagnostic Landscape in Bangladesh

Over the past decade, Bangladesh has made commendable strides in oncology. The PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) test, a primary screening tool, is now accessible even in many district towns. Furthermore, world-class diagnostic methods such as multi-parametric MRI (mpMRI) for staging and TRUS-guided biopsies are increasingly available in urban tertiary centres.

Despite these gains, significant gaps remain. Revolutionary imaging technologies like the PSMA PET-CT, which is essential for detecting recurrence and precise staging, remain extremely limited. Furthermore, a lack of awareness and the absence of a routine screening culture mean that many patients—particularly those in rural areas—present only when the disease has reached an advanced stage.

Identifying the Warning Signs

Prostate cancer is highly treatable if detected early. It predominantly affects older men, and the following symptoms necessitate immediate medical consultation:

Therapeutic Advances and Challenges

Radiotherapy remains a cornerstone of prostate cancer treatment, allowing for high-dose targeting of tumours while sparing surrounding healthy tissue. The introduction of modern Linear Accelerators (LINAC) in Bangladesh has brought international-standard care to the country. Techniques such as Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) and Hypofractionation are becoming more common, significantly reducing treatment duration and improving patient comfort.

However, the infrastructure is struggling to keep pace with demand. Public hospitals face immense backlogs due to an insufficient number of radiotherapy machines. Additionally, there is a critical shortage of specialised professionals, including radiation oncologists, medical physicists, and radiotherapy technologists. Cutting-edge treatments like SBRT (Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy) are currently restricted to a handful of elite centres, leaving a vast majority of the population without access to the most effective modern interventions.