By The Hindu Bureau

Copyright thehindu

The Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology (AINU) has launched a month-long campaign to raise awareness about the rising incidence of prostate cancer in Chennai and the importance of early screening.

At a press briefing on Thursday, Arun Kumar B., managing director, chief consultant urologist, robotic surgeon and uro-oncologist, AINU Chennai, said prostate cancer was now one of the top five cancers among Indian men, with Chennai seeing a rapid rise in cases, particularly among those aged 65-74.

Dr. Kumar stressed that the key to managing prostate cancer is early detection, primarily through the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. “Men should get tested annually or once every two years,” he said. PSA measures a protein in the blood that can be elevated when cancer cells are present in the prostate.

“Men over the age of 50 tend to discuss conditions such as diabetes and blood pressure, but they rarely talk about their PSA levels, which can be an early indicator of prostate cancer,” Dr. Kumar said.

D. Venkat Subramaniam, senior urologist at AINU, said stigma and hesitation often delay diagnosis in India. By normalising routine screenings, men can detect the cancer while it’s still treatable, he added.

The campaign by AINU will include educational sessions, free screening camps, and community outreach to encourage proactive health checks. It will run from September 18 to October 18. The doctors also highlighted the importance of family history in determining when to start screening. If there’s a family history of prostate cancer, they advised men to begin testing at 45.

Advancements in robotic surgery are also making a significant difference in treatment. For those who miss the opportunity for early detection, Dr. Kumar said modern treatments and medications were available to help them live 10 to 15 years with good quality of life.