Five years ago, Shaan experienced a prostate cancer scare, which later turned out to be just a false alarm. While attending the launch of MenCan, an initiative of Urologic Oncology Disease Management Group (URO DMG), a unit of the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), the Bollywood playback singer opened up about the troubled time back in 2020.
“I had a bit of a prostate scare in 2020, which I want to share with you. It almost led to a point where I was told by a few doctors that this could be prostate cancer, but it turned out it was a false alarm. Since then, I’ve been very, very careful in terms of getting my regular tests done,” reported PTI.
As the brand ambassador for MenCan initiative, Shaan also shed light on taboos and stigma attached to the word “cancer”.
“The word itself, people don’t want to use it, like it’s almost like a scary word. You don’t want to be forthcoming about it. Get yourself checked, get yourself administered because it feels kind of violated, scary. But we have to get over that because at the end of the day, your health, especially a man’s health, is important. If a man is not in his best health, it’s going to affect the family,” he said.
What are some warning signs to look out for?
Dr Mohammed Shahid Ali, consultant, Urology, Andrology, Robotic Surgery and Renal Transplantation, Manipal Hospital, Bangalore, told indianexpress.com that prostate cancer is a tough condition to treat, and despite knowing the risks, many tend to ignore early warning signs.
It can be completely asymptomatic in the early stages, but in occasional cases it may present with urinary issues such as:
- A poor urine stream
- Urgency to urinate, especially at night
- Pain while urinating
- Blood in urine
“In the late stages of prostate cancer, patients usually develop leg swelling (leg edema) or bone pain which indicates that it has spread to nearby tissues and organs including bones, lymph nodes, and other organs,” he added.
Watch out for these signs (Source: Freepik)
Preventative lifestyle changes
Dr Ali recommended the following lifestyle tweaks to make sure you don’t invite such trouble:
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Healthy diet: Consuming a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and low in red meat and high-fat dairy products may help reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
Regular exercise: Engaging in regular physical activity can help maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
Sustain a healthy weight: It’s critical to maintain a healthy weight through food and exercise because obesity is associated with a higher chance of developing aggressive prostate cancer.
Limit alcohol consumption: Excessive alcohol consumption is a known risk factor for prostate cancer.
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DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.
