Early diagnosis of prostate diseases

| The program for the early diagnosis of diseases of the prostate is to diagnose prostate diseases through standardized examinations and without risk.

The program of early diagnosis of the prostate It is aimed primarily at men over 50 years of age, with or without symptoms when urinating, in order to know the state of their prostate.

Its objective is to diagnose prostate diseases through standardized and risk-free examinations, recommended by the American cancer Society, in order to discover the problem in early stages, which will allow the population treated a longer survival and a better quality of life.

The candidate for the early prostate diagnosis program, after an appointment with the unit that is going to carry out the study (the units that carry out this program are indicated in the MAPFRE Salud medical directory), will attend the consultation on an empty stomach and without having urinated in the past 3 hours. The risk assessment questionnaire will be completed.

The program includes

• A risk assessment questionnaire. This questionnaire asks for an answer to some questions about possible symptoms related to the prostate (daily frequency of urination, feeling of not emptying the bladder, loss of force in the jet, etc.)
• Consultation and examination of the urologist. This examination will include a digital rectal examination in order to palpate the prostate, its size and possible masses.
• Urological ultrasound. Ultrasound requires a full bladder for a clear image of the prostate. It can be done by placing the device on the abdominal wall, or by inserting it through the rectum to carry out the study very close to the gland. This examination is harmless and does not cause significant discomfort.
• Specific analytics. blood and urine samples are taken. The value of the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is studied to evaluate if it exceeds the figures considered normal. - Clinical report with the diagnosis, risk assessment and recommendations.
• The healthcare activity of the network of our urologists, together with the rest of the specialists from our national medical team, and with the Program for the Early Diagnosis of Prostate Diseases, among others, guarantee correct care at all levels and that MAPFRE's commitment to ensure the health of our policyholders.

Why has MAPFRE decided to create this program?

The is a gland that only men have, which is located below the bladder, and which is crossed by a tube called the urethra (it is the outlet for urine). Its function is closely related to the fertility of the male, since it is responsible for producing a viscous fluid that accompanies the semen, nourishes it and offers an adequate means for it to be fertile. During orgasm, muscle contractions occur that squeeze fluid from the prostate into the urethra and then out.

The growth of the prostate is related to age, and therefore it is common for a person to reach maturity suffering from a problem in the prostate. The prostate gland grows throughout life, but more rapidly after the age of 40. More than half of men older than 60 years have an enlarged prostate and the possibility of having a growth of this gland increases with the years.

The enlargement of the prostate affects the inside of the prostate first, thus gradually pressing down on the urethra. Due to the above, difficulty urinating and some other urinary problems occur.

Two types of prostate problems can occur: one is benign prostate growth (known as prostate adenoma), and another is malignant growth (known as prostate cancer). The vast majority are benign growths affecting more than 50% of men over 50 years of age, with the frequency of prostate cancer being 2% at 50 years and 10% at 70 years, increasing its incidence according to the age of the patient increases.

Currently, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, and the second leading cause of cancer death in men, after lung cancer. In the past 20 years, the survival rate for prostate cancer has increased from 67% to 97%.

It is probably one of the easiest tumors to diagnose, since with the study of a marker called PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) in a blood test, the exploration of the prostate (digital rectal examination) and a urological ultrasound can be rule out prostate problems. It is important to be able to establish an early diagnosis of prostate disorders. This will allow control of the disease in its initial phase and avoid more serious complications.

There are times when prostate cancer does not produce any symptoms, and then the diagnosis is made in a routine checkup. The ease in diagnosing prostate disease (whether it is a benign growth or cancer) is what makes it possible to diagnose problems at an early stage, and thus be able to treat the disease (either with or with a medical treatment) in an early way avoiding or reducing its evolution

Given the importance of this pathology in man, it has designed a specific Preventive Medicine Program for the early diagnosis of prostate diseases. This program involves a series of preventive studies, which together with the assistance to the disease when it appears, give a total and comprehensive response in the assistance of these male pathologies.