Challenges to early diagnosis of prostate cancer in Peru

Abstract

Early detection of prostate cancer in Peru is very uncommon, as patients usually arrive when the disease is locally advanced or advanced. There are no prostate cancer screening campaigns that allow us to detect this disease in early stages. The incidence rates, according to the Registry of Cancer in Metropolitan Lima, are increasing. However, there is probably an under register of cases in our country, since there are not any nation-wide records showing the real magnitude of this disease. It is imperative to develop prevention programs for the early diagnosis of prostate cancer through digital rectal exams and to perform the measurement of the prostate- specific antigen (PSA) in the blood.