Prostate Cancer

 

                                   Prostate Cancer 

✔ GS Paper 2 & 3 (Health, Science & Technology, Public Policy) ✔ Current Affairs – Rising Cancer Cases in India

Overview

• Prostate Cancer develops in the prostate gland, part of the male reproductive system.

• Major Risk Factors – Age, genetics, lifestyle choices (diet, smoking, obesity).

• Symptoms – Difficulty urinating, pelvic pain, weak urine stream, blood in urine/semen.

          

           Early Detection – Blood Tests Used Globally vs. India

Blood Test	Purpose	Global Usage	India’s Accessibility
PSA Test	Measures Prostate-Specific Antigen levels	Widely used	Available in urban hospitals
Free PSA Test	Differentiates cancer vs. benign conditions	Standard in diagnostics	Limited in smaller cities
4Kscore Test	Assesses cancer risk	Common in Western nations	Rare in India
PHI (Prostate Health Index)	Combines multiple PSA markers for accuracy	Used for screening	Limited awareness in India
CTC Test	Detects cancer cells in the bloodstream	Advanced screening method	Mostly in private labs
Genomic Tests (PCA3, TMPRSS2:ERG)	Genetic profiling for risk assessment	Used in precision medicine	Cost-prohibitive in India

UPSC Relevance & Policy Considerations

✅ Public Health & Disease Burden – Rising cases in India due to urbanization, aging population, and lifestyle changes. 

✅ Healthcare Infrastructure – Limited access to advanced cancer detection tests in rural areas. 

✅ Government Initiatives – Screening programs under Ayushman Bharat & National Health Mission. 

✅ Comparative Analysis – India lags behind developed nations in precision cancer diagnostics.