6 in 10 men over 45 unaware of their prostate cancer screening status: Survey | India News
NEW DELHI: Nearly six in 10 Indian men aged 45 and above do not know whether they have ever been screened for prostate cancer, while only around one in six report having undergone screening, a survey by NGO Heal Foundation has found.The survey of 1,036 men across Delhi-NCR, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Maharashtra points to significant gaps in awareness of prostate cancer risk factors, screening and when to seek medical advice. Nearly 69% of respondents could not name a single risk factor, while only 13.2% recognised family history as one. Around three-fourths believed prostate cancer monitoring should begin only at age 50 or later.The findings highlight a disconnect between routine healthcare and prostate-specific awareness. Although 62% of respondents said they underwent annual health check-ups, 60.8% did not know their prostate cancer screening status and only about 16% reported having ever been screened.Awareness of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test was also limited. Only around 31% had heard of PSA as a marker, and just 14% had specifically requested the test.“These findings point to a fundamental awareness gap around prostate cancer,” said Dr Devavrat Arya, vice-chairman, medical oncology, Max Healthcare, Delhi. He said awareness of risk factors, screening and when to consult a doctor needed to become a more visible part of routine health conversations among men over 45.The survey found that 59.5% of men were uncomfortable discussing screening or treatment with doctors, while only 18% would initiate the conversation themselves. Although 67% trusted doctors and hospitals, just 36% identified a urologist as the appropriate specialist. Meanwhile, 84% searched online or on social media for health information.The biggest barriers to screening were believing it was unnecessary (34%), having no symptoms (28%) and not receiving a doctor’s recommendation (22%). Cost (19%), embarrassment or privacy concerns (17%), fear of diagnosis (14%) and not knowing where to go (11%) were other reasons.Gaps widened with age: around 72% of men aged 65 and above were unsure of their screening status, while 80% reported low treatment knowledge. Overall, 71.2% had limited knowledge of treatment options, only 10% felt confident across the treatment pathway, and 44% wanted a second opinion before treatment.
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Dr Nitesh Rohatgi, principal director of medical oncology at fortis memorial research institute, said symptoms in older men were often dismissed as ageing, delaying diagnosis, while awareness of advanced treatments such as radioligand therapy remained limited even after diagnosis.The findings highlight the need for greater risk awareness and informed discussions with doctors. However, the survey reflects self-reported awareness and screening experiences, not prostate cancer prevalence or screening rates among all Indian men.
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