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Prostate cancer – although it sounds ominous, it can be overcome – says actor Maciej Damięcki, privately the father of Matilda and Mateusz Damięcki.
Maciej Damięcki says that his encounter with cancer took place in childhood. – It was then that my life was saved by the fact that I played in the movie Król Maciuś the First. I was referred to an ENT specialist and it turned out that I had thyroid cancer. The people I worked with on the film helped me and I went to Sweden for treatment, she recalls.
Years later, the cancer attacked the actor again. This time it was prostate cancer.
Regular prostate examinations
Damięcki owes early detection of cancer to his wife. – She made sure that I saw a urologist every year. She told me it would be a great disloyalty in a relationship if only one partner looked after his own health. And just as she goes to examine the breasts and do a cytology, I have to examine the prostate – she says.
The likelihood of developing prostate cancer increases after the age of 50. Prostate cancer in the early stages does not cause any symptoms. Detecting it in this initial, asymptomatic phase by a urologist guarantees the possibility of radical therapy increasing the probability of a full recovery. Only advanced cancer causes symptoms that may be similar to those seen in benign prostatic hyperplasia. These include: more frequent urination at night and during the day, urgency to urinate, residual urine in the bladder, or complete urinary retention. Pain symptoms may appear in disseminated neoplasm, and the most common site of metastases is the skeletal system.
One of the most effective examinations is the DRE examination performed by a urologist, i.e. examination of the prostate through the rectum (per rectum). It enables the assessment of the size of the prostate gland and possible early detection of changes. Men should undergo such an examination once a year.
The next step in the case of suspicion of prostate cancer is a blood test to determine kidney function and the concentration of a tumor marker characteristic of this cancer – the so-called PSA antigen. The degree of bladder emptying and the presence of the previously described complications can be analyzed based on ultrasound. The exact dimensions of the prostate and its structure can only be assessed in transrectal ultrasound examination (TRUS), during which a core needle biopsy of the prostate is also performed (histopathological evaluation). It is necessary in the case of elevated PSA levels.
– Three years ago, during a medical check-up, something disturbed me. He decided to biopsy me and took a sample for examination. I learned the result on New Year’s Eve. I told my wife that I had prostate cancer. She took it extremely calmly. She said: you will heal yourself. During the New Year’s Eve I had one New Year’s wish: to overcome the disease – says Damięcki
Choosing a treatment method for prostate cancer
The actor emphasizes that when a person begins to heal, he should not listen to the advice of his colleagues. He has to trust the doctor.
The decision on how to treat prostate cancer depends on many factors: the stage of the disease, the age of the patient. In some justified cases, it is also possible to only observe the patient in order to take the appropriate steps at the right moment. – The doctor asked me how important sexual activity was to me. I told him that I couldn’t imagine my life without her. He decided that in that case I should undergo radiotherapy – says Damięcki. He went to irradiation for three months. He did not have to quit his job. In the morning, surgery, and then normal life. – I followed all the doctor’s instructions. When he told me to drink a liter of water, I drank it – he recalls. “And I hope I’ve cured myself,” she adds.
Doctors emphasize that curing prostate cancer is possible if the disease is diagnosed early, that is, when the cancer has not yet spread beyond the prostate gland. In this case, prostate excision or radiotherapy is used. Both methods have comparable results in terms of effectiveness, but differ in side effects. The operation involves the removal of the entire prostate gland, including the adjacent anatomical structures. Surgical incision is usually made just above the symphysis pubis. The most common side effects include erectile dysfunction and ejaculation, urinary incontinence or urinary retention. Radiation therapy is the irradiation of the prostate gland with the use of special apparatuses. The entire treatment takes several weeks. However, it does not mean lying in hospital. As with any treatment method, radiotherapy has its own side effects. They usually affect the urinary tract (burning, pain when urinating), the end of the digestive tract (diarrhea, painful bowel movements, blood in the stools) or the skin (dry and peeling skin, discoloration). Another type of radiotherapy is brachytherapy in patients with low stage of neoplastic disease. It consists in introducing a radioactive isotope directly into the area of the tumor through needles inserted through the perineum (the procedure is performed under full anesthesia). This treatment reduces the likelihood of side effects as it limits the so-called the irradiation field most often only to the neoplastic tumor. Sometimes hormonal treatment is also included. It consists in the administration of long-acting drugs that stop the production of testosterone, which affects the development of prostate cancer. Sometimes it is necessary to have chemotherapy, which reduces both pain associated with the disease (bone pain, etc.), lowers PSA levels, but most importantly, reduces the size of the tumor and extends the life of patients, which has been confirmed in clinical trials.
Check it out: Radical removal of a prostate tumor extends life by 20 years
Prostata na lata
Maciej Damięcki, like Artur Boruc, Włodzimierz Szaranowicz and Maciej Szczęsny, decided to become the ambassador of the Prostata action for years, conducted under the patronage of the Polish Society of Clinical Oncology, the Polish Oncology Union and the Polish Society of Urology. Its aim is to increase public awareness of prostate cancer, support oncological patients in their fight against the disease and overcome the shame and taboo associated with prostate diseases. As part of the campaign, a super dad’s code was prepared that cares about his health. – I appreciate the Foundation’s attempt to speak openly about such a difficult topic, mainly because prostate cancer is not a disease that affects one person, but also emotionally affects the loved ones. Therefore, I subscribe to the initiative to make Father’s Day the National Day of Prostate Cancer Awareness – says Damięcki.
– I decided to take part in the Prostate action for years, realizing that men are not only afraid of the results of possible prostate tests, but most of all the tests themselves. They are afraid of them as an experience incompatible with the image of a real man, which they are trying to cope with – adds Maciej Szczęsny, sports coach and commentator, privately the father of Jan and Wojciech Szczęsny. Artur Boruc, a Polish goalkeeper participant in the World Cup finals, also joined the action. – I think it is a very nice initiative, and besides, we live in a country where we are not yet fully aware of what is happening to us. I have an example in my own family, my parents died of a malignant tumor, so it was easier for me to decide to support the action – he says.
The campaign was also supported by the Polish representation of Euro 2012. – We believe that any kind of beliefs or fears should not obscure the need to take care of your health. I also think that it is worth mentioning that men are not so much afraid of the results they may receive as they are afraid of testing themselves, and it is precisely this prophylaxis that they should be encouraged to do. As athletes, we care about our health and fitness, but we also do it for the sake of people close to us and we appreciate this message in the Prostat for years campaign – says Tomasz Rząsa, Director of the Representation for Media Communication.
Text: Halina Pylon