A geografia do câncer de próstata na microrregião de Pirapora

Abstract

Neoplasias are among the main diseases that afflict the world population. Therefore, understanding and studying such disease is necessary. However, this study should not have exclusive basis of biological and health sciences; interdisciplinarity in health studies and also regarding neoplasias have been providing valuable contributions to the understanding and comprehension of this disease. In Brazil, prostate cancer is the leading cause of death in men probably due to the diagnosis is still made late. This situation is aggravated when it comes to regions with low social indicators and health inequalities, since these elements constitute barriers to the patients’ access to health services, as it happens in Pirapora microregion. In this context, the present study sought to understand the dynamics of prostate cancer in Pirapora microregion between the years 2004 and 2014, verifying the access conditions of population affected by the disease to the health services. The methodological path consisted of bibliographical and documentary research, mappings, iconographic records, and technical visits to the oncology care units of region for data collection, fieldwork in the municipalities that constitute the microregion aimed by the study for observation in loco and application of questionnaires to men in treatment against prostate cancer. The results obtained have shown that the municipality that presented the highest occurrence and incidence of the disease between the years 2004 to 2014 was Pirapora. It was possible to observe an increase in the records of new cases of prostate cancer in Pirapora microregion within the analyzed period and that the predominant age group embraces men over 50 years of age. Regarding access to health services, it is noted that low socioeconomic indicators and the long journeys taken by patients in search of treatment, coupled with the scarcity of information, have contributed to aggravate the disease situation in the microregion. Despite the existence of public policies aimed at the control, prevention and diagnosis of the disease in Brazil, these actions are inefficient, and there is a need to review these policies and expand their performance in the country. Prostate cancer is a "silent disease" that in most cases is only discovered in advanced stages, making it difficult to treat and therefore cure. This ratifies why the disease is the one that kills the most men in the world.