Medical specialists in Nigeria have issued a strong call to action, urging men, particularly those aged 40 and above, to undergo regular prostate cancer screening. This urgent appeal aims to curb the rising mortality rate associated with the disease, which remains the most frequently diagnosed cancer among Nigerian men.
A Collaborative Push for Awareness and Screening
The clarion call was made during a recent prostate cancer awareness outreach in Lagos. The event was organized by WASH 94.9 FM in partnership with the Phlox Health WASH Foundation, the Prostate Cancer Transatlantic Consortium (CaPTC), Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, and the Medserve-Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Cancer Centre.
During the outreach, 80 men received free screenings, which included both rectal examinations and Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood tests. Titilayo Kode, General Manager of WASH 94.9 FM, stated that the initiative is part of a sustained effort to lower prostate cancer deaths through heightened public awareness and the promotion of early detection methods.
Kode further appealed to relevant government authorities to consider making prostate cancer screening free for all men aged 40 and older. She emphasized that such an early intervention strategy would dramatically reduce the significant social and economic burden the disease places on families and the healthcare system.
The Silent Threat and Alarming Projections
Speaking on the theme, “Have a PROState of Mind: Proactive Awareness, Early Detection and Open Conversation,” Professor Abdulkadir Ayo Salako, a Consultant Urologist at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife, detailed the severity of the issue. He described prostate cancer as one of the most common cancers affecting men, with incidence increasing with age.
Professor Salako clarified a crucial and dangerous aspect of the disease: it often presents no symptoms in its early stages. This silent progression makes routine screening not just important, but essential for timely diagnosis.
“When symptoms do eventually appear, they may include frequent or difficult urination, needing to urinate often at night, blood in the urine, and in advanced stages, severe pain and kidney complications,” he explained. The expert warned that if left untreated, prostate cancer can metastasize to other organs like the bones, spine, lungs, and brain, potentially leading to fractures, paralysis, and death.
Early Detection is Key to Survival
Diagnosis typically involves a combination of a PSA test, a physical examination, and a biopsy if necessary. The consensus among the experts is clear and hopeful: prostate cancer is highly treatable and often curable when caught early. However, once the cancer has spread, treatment shifts to being largely palliative, focusing on managing symptoms rather than achieving a cure.
Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Emmanuel Ojiebun, a Specialist Registrar in Oncology at the Medserve–LUTH Cancer Centre, reiterated that a timely diagnosis drastically improves treatment outcomes and significantly boosts the chances of a full cure. He noted that treatment plans are personalized, depending on factors such as the patient’s age, the stage and aggressiveness of the cancer, and other existing medical conditions.
The data underpinning this urgent health campaign is sobering. According to reports from GLOBOCAN and the World Health Organization (WHO), prostate cancer is the leading cancer diagnosis for men in Nigeria. Furthermore, projections indicate that the number of cases in Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to double by the year 2040, highlighting a looming public health crisis that requires immediate and sustained action.
