Over 47,000 Prostate Cancer Cases Projected in India as CARE Hospitals Raises Awareness

Dr. P. Vamsi Krishna and Dr. Ajay Chanakya Vallabhaneni say men over 50 should understand individual risk as early prostate cancer may develop without urinary symptoms

Men over 50 should be aware of their individual prostate cancer risk even when they have no noticeable urinary symptoms, doctors at CARE Hospitals said during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
The hospital cited figures indicating a substantial prostate cancer burden globally and in India. According to an International Agency for Research on Cancer update cited by CARE Hospitals, more than 1.5 million prostate cancer cases were diagnosed worldwide in 2024, accounting for almost 8% of the global cancer burden. Prostate cancer was reported as the second most commonly occurring cancer among men worldwide.

In India, projections from the Indian Council of Medical Research National Cancer Registry Programme indicated that prostate cancer cases were expected to increase from 41,532 in 2020 to 47,068 in 2025, representing a rise of more than 13% over five years.
Doctors said one of the challenges associated with prostate cancer is that the disease may not produce obvious warning signs during its early stages. Age is an important risk factor, while family history can also increase individual risk, particularly when a father, brother or another close relative has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Dr. P. Vamsi Krishna, Clinical Director, Sr. Consultant & Head, Urology, Robotic, Laparoscopy & Endourology Surgeon, CARE Hospitals, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, said, “One of the biggest misconceptions is that prostate cancer will always cause urinary symptoms. Early prostate cancer may cause no symptoms at all. The risk increases with age, particularly after 50, and family history can further increase an individual’s risk.”
“Men should not wait for symptoms to become troublesome before discussing prostate health with their doctor. Based on age, family history, symptoms and individual risk, the doctor can advise whether further evaluation is appropriate,” he added.

Persistent changes in urinary habits should also receive medical attention. These can include difficulty starting urination, a weak or interrupted urine stream, increased frequency of urination, particularly at night, difficulty completely emptying the bladder, pain or burning during urination and blood in the urine or semen.
Persistent pain involving the lower back, hips or pelvis may also require assessment, particularly when it occurs alongside other concerning symptoms.
CARE Hospitals noted that urinary problems do not automatically indicate prostate cancer. Benign enlargement of the prostate, infections and other prostate conditions can produce similar symptoms. Persistent changes, however, should not simply be attributed to ageing without medical evaluation.

A Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test is among the tools doctors may consider when evaluating prostate health. An elevated PSA level alone does not confirm prostate cancer, as levels can also increase because of benign prostate enlargement, inflammation and other conditions.
PSA results therefore need to be considered alongside age, clinical findings, family history and overall risk, with additional investigations undertaken when clinically appropriate.
Dr. Ajay Chanakya Vallabhaneni, Senior Surgical Oncologist and Robotic Surgeon, CARE Cancer Institute, CARE Hospitals, said prostate cancer can behave differently among patients.

“Prostate cancer does not behave the same way in every patient. Some cancers grow slowly and selected patients may be managed through active surveillance, while clinically significant or aggressive cancers may require surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy or other systemic treatments,” Dr. Vallabhaneni said.
“When clinically significant prostate cancer is identified before it has spread, we generally have a broader range of treatment options. The objective is timely and accurate diagnosis followed by treatment tailored to the patient and the biology of the cancer,” he added.
Doctors also cautioned that the absence of urinary symptoms does not rule out early prostate cancer, while an elevated PSA result does not automatically indicate cancer. Similarly, not every prostate cancer diagnosis requires immediate surgery.

Treatment decisions can depend on factors including the stage and grade of the cancer, PSA levels, age, overall health, patient preferences and the likely behaviour of the tumour.
CARE Hospitals said prostate cancer awareness should focus on helping men understand individual risk and have informed discussions with their doctors rather than encouraging indiscriminate testing. Men with a significant family history or other risk factors may need to discuss prostate health at an earlier age.
With prostate cancer cases in India projected to have increased by more than 13% between 2020 and 2025, doctors are encouraging men over 50 to make prostate health part of routine health conversations and seek medical advice for persistent urinary changes.

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