Prostate Cancer Myths and the Critical Importance of Early Detection

Prostate cancer stands as the most frequent cancer among men in regions such as Colombia and Costa Rica, yet persistent myths, cultural resistance to screening, and a lack of early symptoms routinely delay diagnoses, according to regional health officials and epidemiological data. In Colombia, the disease accounts for one out of every four new cancer diagnoses among males, according to figures cited by the Cuenta de Alto Costo. Medical specialists emphasize that while the condition can advance in silence without pain or changes in urination, detecting the disease while it remains localized in the prostate drastically changes treatment outcomes and long-term survival rates.

Why Early Detection Matters and the Silent Nature of the Disease

A major obstacle in treating prostate cancer is its tendency to progress without noticeable warning signs during its initial stages. According to Liliana Isabel Torres, an internal medicine specialist and medical leader for oncology at Bayer for the PACA region, the disease frequently produces no symptoms early on, meaning that feeling healthy is not enough to rule it out. Data from the Cuenta de Alto Costo in Colombia illustrates this disparity in staging: among new cases registered in 2024, approximately 41.72 percent were diagnosed at stage II, while roughly 22.13 percent had already progressed to stage IV by the time they were evaluated.

When detected early while still confined to the prostate gland, patients have access to curative treatment options including surgery and radiotherapy. Torres notes that when the disease remains localized, 100 percent of patients live to five years, highlighting a stark contrast to cases identified after the cancer has spread through the body. In Costa Rica, similar patterns appear in public health data. According to the Registro Nacional de Tumores, 1,005 cases were diagnosed in 2015, yielding a rate of 41.7 per 1,000 men, which sits above the global average of 31.1 per 100,000 men. Urologist Gonzalo Azúa points out that early detection enables curative treatment, whereas delayed discovery often restricts options to palliative care focused on reducing pain and managing symptoms rather than curing the condition.

Overcoming Screening Barriers Through the Diagnostic Duo

Cultural resistance and prejudice regarding specific diagnostic methods continue to deter men from seeking timely medical evaluations. Medical experts emphasize that physical examinations remain critical alongside blood tests because relying on a single method can leave dangerous gaps in detection. Liliana Torres describes the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and the digital rectal examination as a vital pair, noting that roughly 19 percent of patients do not initially present a significant elevation in their PSA levels.

Rebeca Cáceres, a medical surgeon specializing in epidemiology, explains that the rectal exam allows physicians to evaluate the physical consistency of the gland. A healthy prostate feels soft, resembling the cartilage at the tip of the nose or a walnut in size, whereas a gland altered by cancer feels hard or irregular like a stone. Anatomically, approximately 80 percent of prostate tumors develop in the peripheral zone of the gland, making direct evaluation through the rectal wall essential. Despite the discomfort and social taboos surrounding the procedure, specialists stress that avoiding these evaluations can carry a severe health cost.