In F. Sionil Jose’s controversial Ermita, the city itself is the metaphorical body: proud on the outside, but fragile within, weakened by years of neglect and shame. In many ways, this metaphor shows how Filipino men often treat their own bodies — strong on the surface, silent in their suffering.
Prostate Cancer Awareness Week is observed in September, and in the Philippines, where discussions about men’s health often retreat into silence, the topic remains on the sidelines. The prostate — small, hidden, yet powerful in function — is too often neglected until its illness becomes unavoidable.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HAD YOUR PROSTATE CHECKED? KEEP TABS HERE.
Myths and Masculinity
One of the most persistent myths is that prostate cancer is a “foreigner’s disease,” something that happens only to older Caucasian men. This is simply untrue. In the Philippines, prostate cancer is among the top five cancers affecting men, according to the Department of Health.
Another myth: that sexual activity or abstinence directly causes prostate cancer. Science is clear — it doesn’t. Risk factors are age, genetics, and lifestyle, not moral judgment.
This is where culture collides with science. In a society where men equate masculinity and strength with silence, symptoms like frequent urination, pelvic discomfort, or blood in the urine are brushed aside. Discussions about urinary habits or sexual function turn into jokes or embarrassment.
This cultural stigma prevents early detection — and can cost lives.
And perhaps the most dangerous myth is that silence. Prostate cancer can grow quietly, showing no signs in its early stages. By the time symptoms appear, the disease may already be advanced.
As Butch Dalisay once wrote in Killing Time in a Warm Place, “We deny what we fear, until denial itself becomes a kind of prison.” For many men, the prison is their own reluctance to get checked.
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Realities and Risks
The reality is stark: prostate cancer can be silent for years. Early stages often show no symptoms, making regular check-ups and PSA (prostate-specific antigen) tests essential for men above 50—or earlier, if family history suggests higher risk.
The truth is sobering:
- Data from the Philippine Cancer Society lists it among the leading cancers in Filipino males. Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in Filipino men.
- It often strikes after age 50, but those with a family history may be at risk earlier.
- Many men seek medical help only when symptoms become unbearable, limiting treatment options.
The reality is also personal. Families carry the burden when fathers, husbands, or brothers suffer in silence. Illness does not stay in the body of one man — it ripples through households, affecting relationships, finances, and futures.
What Every Filipino Should Know
1. The Basics of the Prostate
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located just below the bladder. Its main function is to produce fluid that nourishes and protects sperm. Though small, problems with the prostate can lead to big health issues:
- Prostate enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia) – common as men age, causing difficulty urinating.
- Prostatitis – inflammation that may cause pain and discomfort.
- Prostate cancer – when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in the gland.
2. The Risk Factors
- Age: Risk rises sharply after 50.
- Family history: Having a father, brother, or uncle with prostate cancer doubles the risk.
- Diet and lifestyle: High-fat diets, obesity, smoking, and lack of exercise contribute to higher risk.
- Ethnicity: Some studies suggest that Asian men, including Filipinos, are less likely than Western counterparts to be diagnosed—but this may reflect underreporting and low screening rates, not true immunity.
3. Screening and Detection
- PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) Test: A simple blood test that measures a protein produced by the prostate. Elevated levels may signal a problem.
- Digital Rectal Exam (DRE): Though often avoided due to embarrassment, this quick physical exam helps doctors detect abnormalities.
- When to screen: Men 50 and above should talk to their doctors about annual screening. For those with a family history, start at 40–45.
4. Prevention and Lifestyle Choices
- Eat for your prostate: A diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and fish is linked to lower risk. Tomatoes, watermelon, and guava are high in lycopene, an antioxidant studied for its prostate-protective benefits.
- Stay active: Regular exercise lowers obesity risk and boosts overall health.
- Don’t smoke, limit alcohol: Both increase cancer risks across the body.
- Listen to your body: Difficulty urinating, weak urine flow, pain, or blood in urine should never be ignored.
5. Treatment and Hope
Caught early, prostate cancer is highly treatable through surgery, radiation, or hormone therapy. Advances in medicine are making treatments less invasive and survival rates higher. The key lies in early detection—something only possible if men overcome the stigma of testing and talking openly.
A Path Forward
So what should Filipino men — and their families — do?
- Break the Silence. Normalize conversations about prostate health in homes, workplaces, and community spaces.
- Schedule Screenings. Encourage annual check-ups, especially for men over 50.
- Rethink Diet. Include more plant-based meals, local fish, and antioxidant-rich produce.
- Exercise Regularly. Movement is medicine for the whole body.
- Involve Families. Awareness should not be the burden of men alone—wives, children, and siblings can encourage and normalize preventive care.
Everyday choices accumulate into long-term well-being, men and their families must be aware.
Toward Joyful Wellness
Ultimately, caring for the prostate is not just about men — it is about families and communities.
When a father, husband, or brother is well, the family is well. When men debunk the myth of invincibility and embrace the reality of preventive care, they step into the kind of courage that heals.
September’s Prostate Cancer Awareness Month can be a turning point and offer Filipinos the essentials of caring for this small gland that plays a big role in male health.
Wellness, as Joyful Wellness reminds us, is not about silence but about living fully — with dignity, strength, and joy.
Suggested Readings & References:
- Department of Health (DOH), Philippines – Prostate Cancer Awareness Month materials and cancer statistics.
- Philippine Cancer Society – Cancer facts and early detection guidelines for Filipino men.
- World Health Organization (WHO) – Cancer fact sheets, prostate cancer global overview.
- National Cancer Institute (NCI, U.S.) – Prostate Cancer Prevention, Screening, and Treatment insights.
- Mayo Clinic – Prostate cancer: Symptoms and causes.
- American Cancer Society – What Is Prostate Cancer? Risk factors, myths, and screening guidelines.
DISCLAIMER
This article provides general information and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider for personalized recommendations. If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
