Men, Outsmart These Two Silent Killer Cancers Before They Strike

Prostate and testicular cancers are two of the deadliest yet often silent threats men face. Hence, catching them early can save lives. Consultant urologist Dr Selvalingam Sothilingam explains the warning signs, the importance of regular screenings, and practical steps men can take to stay ahead of these cancers. Knowledge, vigilance, and action are your best defenses.

WORDS LIM TECK CHOON

FEATURED EXPERT DATO’ DR SELVALINGAM SOTHILINGAM Consultant Urologist Sunway Medical Centre Velocity

According to consultant urologist Dato’ Dr Selvalingam Sothilingam, prostate cancer and testicular cancer are likely to have no or minimal symptoms at their early stages.

These cancers are frequently diagnosed when they have reached an advance stage, where treatment is more complex and the chances of getting a positive outcome are much lower.

The irony here is that these cancers can be curable when detected while they are at an early stage.

PROSTATE CANCER

Dato’ Dr Selvalingam recommends consulting a doctor and going for the prostate specific antigen (PSA) tumour marker test, which helps to detect the possibility of prostate cancer.

The PSA test is recommended for men with a family history of prostate or breast cancer as well as men above 50 years old, especially those with lower urinary tract symptoms.

Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

• Feeling that you are unable to completely empty your bladder while urinating.
• Need to pee shortly after consuming fluids, likely due to bladder filling up quickly.
• Very frequent or constant urge to urinate.
• Accidental peeing, such as when you’re coughing or sneezing.
• Unusually high volumes of urine.

TESTICULAR CANCER

“Testicular cancer may begin as a small lump in the testis and is more easily detected but can be missed unless a man performs regular testis self-examination,” Dato’ Dr Selvalingam says.

“Early testicular cancer is curable, and the treatment is less costly than in cases of advanced testicular cancer,” Dato’ Dr Selvalingam highlights as a reason why men should perform such self-examination regularly.

This advice especially applies to men with a history of undescended testicles or are born with testicular abnormalities, as well as men with a family history of testicular cancer, as they are more at risk of developing this cancer.