HelpAge India holds session on prostate cancer

Tribune News Service

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Ludhiana, October 7

HelpAge India, a national-level organisation working for the wellbeing of senior citizens, organised a prostate cancer awareness session in association with Senior Citizens’ Welfare Association, Ludhiana, today.

The session was held at Laxmi Narayan Mandir, BRS Nagar. Dr Jagdip Singh Sekhon, senior consultant medical oncologist, Fortis Hospital Ludhiana, gave a talk on prostate cancer to a large number of senior citizens attending the session.

Besides Advocacy Officer Ashok Patiyal and Kamal Sharma, programme manager from HelpAge India and Er Balbir Singh, president, Senior Citizens’ Association, Ludhiana, were also present.

A talk by Dr Sekhon was followed by a question-answer session, wherein participants asked about the prevention and diagnosis of prostate cancer.

“Healthy and disciplined lifestyle and regular exercise will prevent cancer,” said Dr Sekhon.

HelpAge India is working for senior citizens for the last 40 years and has its projects in over 90 locations in India. One of its flagship projects is Mobile Medicare Unit and Help Age has 135 units of this kind running across all states.

In Punjab, Help Age has three such units in Patiala, Firozepur and Gurdaspur. In Patiala and Gudaspur, it has its old age homes, wherein around 80 residents are being supported by this organisation.

All prostate problems not cancerous, says doctor

Lions Club, Ludhiana, also arranged a seminar on prostate problems among the elderly. 

Club secretary Dr Rajesh Thapar said: “Prostate gland is a walnut-sized gland that is part of the male reproductive system. The gland normally grows with age causing prostate problems among the elderly. The growth can impair the normal functioning of the urethra. The gland can also become inflamed or infected (prostatitis) in the elderly with prostate problems.” 

He asked them to be careful and not take any problem such as any change in urine stream and flow casually. Dr Jasbir Singh Chhabra was the guest speaker. He said many men with prostate cancer have no symptoms related to their cancer. For those that do have symptoms, they could include, urinary problems – weak urine stream; difficulty initiating urination; stopping and starting during urination; urinating frequently, especially at night; pain or burning with urination. He said now 80 per cent of the prostate gland problems can be cured with medicines and only 20 per cent patients need surgical or other procedures. He said one should not be afraid of prostate problems as all prostate problems are not cancerous.