India's Prostate Cancer Crisis: Low Awareness Leads to Late, Metastatic Diagnoses

• Prostate cancer is the third most common cancer among Indian men, affecting 43,000 in 2022, with incidence rising sharply after age 50.
• Low awareness, dismissal of symptoms, and lack of routine screening lead to late detection; 43% of patients present with metastatic disease.
• Early-stage prostate cancer is highly treatable, but symptoms are often mistaken for benign prostate enlargement or normal aging.
• Key risk factors include age, family history, genetic mutations, and lifestyle; symptoms range from urinary issues to bone pain in advanced stages.
• Screening via PSA test and DRE, especially for men over 50 or high-risk, is crucial for early diagnosis and better treatment outcomes.

Why It Matters: Urgent need for increased awareness and screening to combat late-stage prostate cancer diagnoses in India.