Prostate cancer is the third most common cancer affecting men in the Czech Republic. The risk of developing the disease increases with age. Family history also plays an important role, along with other factors such as a diet high in animal fats. The chances of successful treatment depend greatly on early detection. In its early stages, prostate cancer usually causes no noticeable symptoms, which is why regular preventive urological check-ups are so important.
In the early stages, prostate cancer typically causes no obvious symptoms. Even in more advanced stages, the symptoms are not specific and may also be associated with non-cancerous conditions, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Possible symptoms include:
One of the most reliable indicators of prostate cancer is an elevated level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. Higher PSA levels may indicate increased permeability of the prostate tissue caused by a pathological process, including prostate cancer. A simple blood test can therefore help detect the disease at an early stage.
Prostate cancer most commonly spreads through the lymph nodes and may also metastasize to the bones, lungs, liver, nervous system, and kidneys. If the disease is not detected early, it is often diagnosed only after metastases have developed. These may cause pain or stiffness in the back, hips, or limbs. Advanced cancer may also be accompanied by general weakness, loss of appetite, and unintended weight loss.
Regular urological check-ups should be part of routine preventive healthcare for all men over the age of 40.
If you are over 50 or have a family history of prostate cancer, we recommend having a preventive urological examination every year. These examinations are painless and covered by public health insurance, including at our private clinic for patients insured by our contracted health insurance providers.
You should also see a urologist without delay if you notice changes in your urination pattern, difficulty controlling your bladder, pain during an erection or ejaculation, or blood in your urine or semen.
A routine urological examination includes a consultation with your doctor, an ultrasound examination, and laboratory analysis of blood and urine samples.
Your appointment begins with a discussion of your medical history. We then perform an ultrasound examination of the kidneys, bladder, urethra, and external genital organs. Blood and urine samples are collected for comprehensive laboratory testing. For men over the age of 40 and those with a family history of prostate cancer, this also includes measuring the PSA level.
If histological examination confirms the presence of cancer, we will discuss the most appropriate treatment plan with you. The choice of treatment depends largely on the stage of the disease. Our urologists work closely with leading prostate cancer treatment centres in the Czech Republic, and you can remain under their care throughout your treatment.
Radical prostatectomy was one of the first procedures to be performed using robotic surgery, and today it is routinely carried out at our partner hospital.
The advantages of robotic surgery include highly precise tumour removal, a minimally invasive approach, reduced blood loss, a lower risk of long-term urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction, and a lower risk of infection. Patients also benefit from a shorter hospital stay and a faster return to everyday life.
Thanks to our close cooperation with Na Homolce Hospital and MUDr. Veronika Šturcová Kaliská, FEBU, we are able to provide our patients with comprehensive, long-term care throughout the entire treatment process.
