THE Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) Department of Urology attends to around 50 to 60 prostate cancer patients each day, according to a senior doctor from the department.
Dr. Porferio Serrano III, senior resident at SPMC’s Urology Department, said most of their prostate cancer patients are men aged 45 and above.
“Prostate cancer is sakit sa mga lalaki lang, ito ay kadalasan makikita sa mga lalaking 50 years old and above and usually most of our seniors or patients does not know has poor knowledge on prostate cancer (Prostate cancer is a disease that affects only men and is most commonly seen in those aged 50 and above. Sadly, many of our senior patients have little to no knowledge about the disease),” he said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw, on Monday morning, June 30, 2025, at SM City Davao.
He noted that based on their data, about one in every eight men screened at the center tests positive for prostate cancer.
Common signs and symptoms include prostate enlargement, difficulty urinating due to outlet obstruction, and blood in the urine.
Serrano underscored the importance of early screening, especially for older men experiencing such symptoms, as early detection allows for timely medical intervention. Noting that many Filipinos tend to seek medical help only when symptoms worsen, often resulting in late-stage cancer that is more difficult and costly to treat.
Serrano encouraged men with a family history of prostate cancer to begin screening as early as 30 years old. While genetics plays a role, he also noted that the disease can occur sporadically, often linked to risk factors such as high consumption of red meat and smoking.
SPMC offers screening services and advanced procedures such as laser and robotic-assisted surgery.
Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the prostate gland—a small organ in men that produces seminal fluid—and is one of the most common cancers affecting older males. RGP