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Tag: Prostate cancer

  • Scientists seek early detection, Africa-led trials to curb prostate cancer deaths

    Scientists seek early detection, Africa-led trials to curb prostate cancer deaths

    Twenty years after it was founded, the Prostate Cancer Transatlantic Consortium (CAPTC@20) has once again raised the alarm over the rising toll of prostate cancer on African men, describing the disease as a “silent killer” that continues to devastate families when detected late.

    At the consortium’s 20th anniversary celebration in Lagos, experts, survivors, and policymakers called for urgent steps to improve early detection, promote Africa-based clinical trials, and strengthen survivor support systems.

    A Professor of Haematology and Oncology at the Mayo Clinic in Florida, United States of America, Prof. Folakemi Odedina, lamented the continuing disparities in survival outcomes between African men and their counterparts in Europe and North America.

    “African men are still more likely to be diagnosed at a late stage and more likely to die from prostate cancer than their counterparts in Europe or North America,” she said. “Behind every statistic is a family shattered. A father gone too soon, a husband lost, a breadwinner taken away. That is why we cannot relent. Our mission is not just about science, it is about saving families from needless pain.”

    According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), prostate cancer is now the most common cancer among men in sub-Saharan Africa, with rising incidence and mortality rates. Despite this, screening and treatment options remain limited, while stigma and low awareness prevent many men from seeking help until it is too late.

    Prof. Odedina emphasised that CAPTC’s next phase will focus on grooming a “Next Generation” of African researchers, clinicians, and advocates to sustain the mission.

    “Our goal is formidable: to eradicate prostate cancer in men of African ancestry. It will take research, policy, and community action working hand in hand. The cost of inaction is measured in lives lost,” she declared. “Yes, we have received more than $50 million in funding to publish research and push discoveries, and by the grace of God, we are proud of our achievements. But this anniversary is not only a time to look back; it is also a moment to ask what we will do in the next 20 years. Because if African men are still dying in their prime, then our work is far from over.”

    She stressed that awareness remains central, “If a man is diagnosed with prostate cancer early, that man can be treated and cured. Education is the key. But when he is diagnosed, we must also ensure better treatment. The reality is that therapies that work well in the West may not fit in sub-Saharan Africa. Our men deserve tailor-made treatment strategies, culturally sensitive interventions, and community support. This is doable, but only if we come together. And that is exactly what CAPTC represents.”

    In his keynote address, Prof. Clayton Yate of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, USA, applauded the consortium’s contributions but issued a stern reminder.

    “CAPTC established the first prostate cancer genome sequencing for African American men. That has changed therapies,” he said. “But the work is far from finished. Unless access improves across Africa, too many men will continue to die needlessly. Research alone is not enough. What we need now is access, equity, and urgency.”

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    A consultant surgeon and CAPTC member, Dr. Ebenezer Nkom, described the disease as devastating for families.

    “It is a silent killer of men of a particular age group. When the man goes, the family scatters,” he said gravely. “But it does not have to be so. If you detect it early, the chances of a cure are real. The tragedy is that too many African men show up only when it is too late. That is why awareness is not a luxury; it is survival.”

    For Prof. Solomon Rotimi of Covenant University, one of the consortium’s leading African investigators, the absence of Africa-based clinical trials remains a major gap.

    “Most cancer drugs are tested in Europe and America,” he explained. “That raises serious questions about their effectiveness in African populations with different genetics, diets, and environments. You cannot enter your house through another man’s gate. Our men need treatments tested here, not borrowed results from elsewhere.”

    Rotimi used a vivid analogy to highlight the problem, “If you develop a drug in Europe and test it ‘after a meal’, that meal may be a cup of coffee and a slice of bread. But in Nigeria, when you say ‘after a meal’, a man may be swallowing the drug with a mound of amala or pounded yams. The outcomes will not be the same. That is why some anti-malaria drugs, for instance, failed here even though they were reported as effective elsewhere. Our sun exposure is different, our lifestyle is different. You cannot simply take one solution from another environment and force it into ours.”

    While welcoming Nigeria’s recent policy shift toward encouraging clinical trials, Rotimi said more must be done to localise cancer treatment.

    “When you test a drug at home and it doesn’t work as reported, you can adjust, change the dose, increase the cycle, or modify the intervention. That is how to improve outcomes for our people. Anything less is guesswork, and our people deserve better.”

    Reflecting on CAPTC’s achievements, Prof. Rotimi highlighted groundbreaking work led by the consortium, from identifying unique genetic characteristics of Nigerian men with prostate cancer to linking vitamin D deficiency among Black populations to increased cancer risks.

    “Our ancestors lived outdoors and got enough sun,” he said. “But today’s lifestyle leaves many men vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D is not just a vitamin; it is a hormone that strengthens the immune system. If it is low, the body becomes vulnerable to diseases, including prostate cancer. Men must know their vitamin D levels and take supplements if needed.”

    He added that CAPTC’s pioneering efforts in genome sequencing and investigator-led trials are already shaping therapies globally, but insisted that local ownership of solutions is the only way forward.

    The event also spotlighted survivors who have turned their diagnoses into platforms for advocacy. Captain Yahaya Ayinde Yahaya, a 73-year-old retired soldier, shared how CAPTC transformed his journey.

    “When I learned I had prostate cancer, I accepted my fate. I thought it was the end,” he recalled. “But joining CAPTC turned me into an advocate. I organised free tests for over 300 people in my community. That is how we break the stigma. That is how we save lives. If I can convince one man to check early and live longer, then my survival has meaning.”

    For families across Africa, the message from Lagos was clear: prostate cancer is no longer a battle that can be delayed. Early detection saves lives, local trials save futures, and silence is no longer an option.

  • Five foods men over 50 must avoid to prevent Prostate Cancer

    Five foods men over 50 must avoid to prevent Prostate Cancer

    After skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer affecting men. It is a potentially aggressive and life-threatening disease that begins when cancerous cells form in the prostate—a small gland in the male reproductive system located just below the bladder.

    Prostate cancer is most commonly diagnosed in older men, with risk increasing significantly after the age of 50.

    While factors such as age, genetics, and lifestyle contribute to its development, diet also plays a crucial role in maintaining prostate health. Certain foods have been linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer.

    Here are 5 foods men over 50 should avoid to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

    1. Red and Processed Meats

    Red meats like beef, pork, and lamb—along with processed options such as sausages, hot dogs, bacon, and deli meats—have been linked to a higher risk of prostate cancer. When cooked at high temperatures, these meats produce harmful compounds known as heterocyclic amines (HCAs), which can damage cells and potentially lead to cancer. If you choose to eat red meat, limit it to once or twice a month and avoid deep frying or high-heat cooking methods.

    2. High-Fat Dairy Product

    Whole milk, full-fat cheese, butter, cream, and similar dairy items are high in saturated fats and hormones, both of which have been associated with an increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer. Switching to low-fat or fat-free dairy can help reduce this risk. Non-dairy alternatives such as almond, soy, oat, or flax milk offer healthier options.

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    3. Saturated and Trans Fats

    Foods high in saturated and trans fats—like processed meats, packaged snacks, fried foods, and baked goods—can promote inflammation and may fuel cancer cell growth. Replace these unhealthy fats with nutritious options such as olive oil, avocado, nuts, seeds, and omega-3-rich fish like salmon. You can also use small amounts of homemade ghee for cooking, but moderation is key. Avoid junk and processed foods, keeping them as rare treats.

    4. Sugar

    Sugar offers no nutritional value and contributes to obesity, a known risk factor for prostate cancer. Sugary drinks, candies, pastries, and sweets can cause blood sugar spikes, weight gain, and hormonal imbalances that may support cancer growth. Minimise your intake of added sugars, opt for whole fruits over juices, and focus on fibre-rich whole grains to stabilise blood sugar levels.

    5. Alcohol

    Excessive alcohol consumption weakens the immune system and increases the risk of various cancers, including prostate cancer. It can also disrupt hormone balance and promote inflammation. While doctors suggest no level of alcohol is truly safe, moderation is critical. If you choose to drink, stay within recommended limits—and consider reducing or eliminating alcohol altogether for better prostate health.

  • Stage 4 prostate cancer doctor healed by herbs offers prayers

    Stage 4 prostate cancer doctor healed by herbs offers prayers

    The story of Dr Samuel Johnson, a stage four  prostate gland cancer survivor, went out again two Sundays ago…during a thanks giving service at his church AME Zion, in a village, Mbierebe Akpawat , Ibesikpo LGA, near Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital. If you have not heard of the story, Dr Johnson is the Orthodox medical doctor who has been reported two or three times in passing on this page to have wound up his medical practice of 47 years in the United States and, literally speaking, return home to die, after doctors over there diagnosed him of stage 4 prostate cancer in terminal stages and gave him no more than three months to live. Irrespective of intellectual science and technology- based opinions, Dr Samuel Johnson fate would lead him to persons who introduced him to some herbs which he religiously added to his treatment regimen. The herbs worked wonders. Dr Johnson defeated the cancer, as lived for more than one year longer than his doctors thought he would, and went to church two Sundays ago to offer his gratitude to the Almighty Creator and Ruler of All the Worlds.

    Today, I write about Dr Samuel Johnson with no pressure of a doubting Thomas on my mind, and free of the fear that I may have swallowed, line hook and sinker,the bait of a scammer. Some readers of this column who sought access to Dr Samuel Johnson for help in respect of their ailing prostate glands, or for those of their friends and relations, tended to disbelieve the story because the doctor did not give me the permission to let the public in to him. He and I spoke about two or three times, no doubt, after an impeccable source was so sucked in by a journalist proverbial Long Nose For News. After those initial contacts, Dr Johnson seem to shut the door. Why he chose to not “put his little light on the bushel to let it shine”, as we were trained in high school Baptist Training Union ( BTU) of the 1960s, I do not know. I acknowledge his right to not be a public’s man, though. Nevertheless, I strove on to re-assure enquirers from The Nation newspaper that Dr Samuel Johnson is not a scam. Early this month, providence let me to someone who attended Dr Samuel Johnson’s thanksgiving church service. This person had been hovering around him in respect of some-one with prostate cancer challenges. What I have deduced from our conversations so far is that Dr Samuel John appears to want no more than a 100 patients he can creditably manage. That is probably why he has not been open to entreaties by the local physicians association in Uyo that they set up a foundation around his work. It is possible the foundation may beat down treament bills which, I understand,may hit about N4 million in some cases. From some of the persons who have made the 100- Patients List,it is emerging that the treament is two-fold. One part consists of Homornal Therapies. The other comprises Nutrinational Supplements and Herbs.

    I do not know as yet if this hormones or herbs are they once alternative medicine works with in various ways to create checks and balances in the prostate gland.Thus,Dr Samuel Johnson would simply laugh at me if I make wild, wrong guesses. I would, therefore, save my energy in this regard. For how long he would be able to keep to himself I do not know. His survivor story is generating energy everywhere for his help. We are in the season of Resurrection as it were. Literally speaking,Dr. Samuel Johnson’s health resurrected. They are probably hundreds of thousands of suffering men who are trying, as Dr Samuel Johnson once was, and who would want to be saved from prostate gland health troubles.

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    I  sympathise and flow with them, not because I have prostate gland challenges. Since my 30s in the 1980s, I have taken food supplements relevant to the health of this organ. The ones I can remember include Saw Palmetto Berries, Peruvian Macca, Ashwanghdah, Small Flowered Willow Herb, Pyggeum Africanum, Stringing Nettle Root, Bee Pollen,Zinc, Vitamin E, Essential Fatty Acids( Omega-3) anti-inflammatories such as curcumin and anti-microbials such as Golden Seal Root and Amazon A-F, which is indicated for bacteria and viruses. Sometimes, I try to rid my body of heavy metals toxicity using chlorella and cilantro, also known as corriander, and chelated minerals as well. I do the same for parasites, too, because parasites, like microbes, may create havocs in the prostate gland. There are many proprietary blends in the market which factor as many of these fabulous nutrients and others not mentioned here into their formulas. The FLP once gave us PRO-6. BELL came up with Easy Flow Tea. From Nature’s Gift for Life(NG4), we have Prostate Protect, Prosta plus and Broccoli.Angela and Zinab, of Millennium Nature’s Pathway ( MINAPATH) eulogise D-MAN, Nakom Oil and Rejuvenating Drink.Edible Herbs offer Prostate Care and Men’s Formular. From the 1990s till this day, Tasly had provided GinsengIN RH2 and Water Lilly, among several others which should include Cardiotonic Pills, a wonderful blood circulation formula. Basically, it is an ANTI- hypertensive and anti-stroke formula, going by outcomes of some clinical studies. In such studies, the hands of some volunteers were frozen until the outer skin became white, suggesting lack of poor blood circulation. They were then given Cardiotonic pills to swallow with water.In the twinkle of an eye, blood circulation re-established in the hands. This suggested that this formulation may dissolve blood clots in the arteries,to prevent heart failure, congestive heart problems, heart attack and strokes. Why water pushes blood through seemingly impregnable barriers in these places not open up, I often wonder at the level of treatment conceptions why it does not easily do so in cases of  prostate gland challenges and in uterine fibroids.

    In my small house garden, I planted a variety, of the white cocoa yam which he said to be a medicine for glandular inflammation and enlargement. They are yet to mature. I planted them when a junior professional colleague of mine who had prostate gland questions for many years told me he got rid of them by eating a special type of white cocoyam which some-one suggested to him. In the healing business, I have learned to not throw out of the window any suggestion. I researched white cocoyam, and found it had great potentials. I did not know this gentleman to be flipant when we work at The Guardian newspaper. I had left The Comet newspaper when he went to work there. His reputation as a serious-minded person was still intact, from what I picked up from his colleagues. When Udeme James overheard my conversations with him on the telephone, she told me to not disregard his suggestion about cocoyam. She said that, in Akwa-Ibom State where she came from, it was the saving grace for many children,including her as one, who came down with Mumps, a dangerous infection and Inflammation of the salivary gland which caused painful swellings around the ear and neck regions. If they are not well treated in time and well, they may cause sterility in men and women later in adult life. In Akwa Ibom State of her time, Udeme recalls, white cocoyam was used therapeutically against mumps. It was boiled and eating as boiled with no oil, pepper , salt, stew or sauce. That is often the end of the mumps infection. When my white cocoyam matures for harvesting, I should have another recipe for prostate gland challenges on my finger tips. You, too, can do the same today. However, please note that the white cocoyam variety I speak about is the very slimy one which is difficult to cook and eat until it has been left to dry a beat after the harvest.

     It is good to give when we receive . That is the life of this column. Since my late 20s, that is for about 50 years now, have been growing the knowledge and activities in taking and giving. I do not like to take without giving in healthy balance, even if the giving is not to the person I took from. The Lord Jesus taught us that it was better to give than to receive because it is only in giving that we receive. Who can expel used air in his or her lungs without giving it out to the universe to receive a fresh intake? When any organ blocks the flow of blood circulation to other organs, will it not cause impairments in the other organs through this stagnation? This is a great concern in Glaucoma, the dangerous eye disease,in which the frontal chamber of the eye holds up fluid circulation to outside the eye chambers, to cause fluid back up in the back chamber and a gradual loss of vision. Doesn’t Autism arise from a lack of proper co-ordination between the Cerebrum (back brain ) and the Cerebellum (front brain) which causes indwelling spirit inability to properly use the body?

     We can spill over into the great universe and into activities of attraction and repulsion through gravitational forces of the Cosmic bodies. Attracting and repelling constitute taking and giving which, in healthy balance, holds the universe together. As a geography student in high school, it was intriguing to me that the earth, its moon, the sun and stars and other cosmic bodies in our solar system do not collide in their orbits around the Sun. More intriguing it was when I learned of the galaxies of solar systems which numbers is beyond human ability to number. What about the stars, some of which are about one million times larger than our Earth, a mere pin-point in the cosmic architecture? Boundless was my joy the day I discovered that The Law of  Giving and Taking was one of the laws of Nature which upholds stability in the universe. No wonder, the Lord Jesus said it was better to give than to receive. Haven’t we, too, said through observation that Giver Never Lack?

    Finally, I would like to recall that the treatment of eye problems in Nigeria advanced because an aging patient of Ophthalmologist Prof. Bukola Adefule-Oshitelu gave her his recipe for healthy vision despite the challenge of glaucoma for which he was consulting with her. He told her he had not been using Orthodox eye drops she was prescribing for him for his high occular tensions in glaucoma but using home-made Bitter Kola eye drops. He was coming to her clinic at the Guiness Eye Centre of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) only to be sure his eye pressure was within safe limits. Prof. Adefule-Oshitelu researched Bitter Kola for eye drops in glaucoma, and found it brought eye pressure down. When this column reported it, the unusual happened. The Voice of America ( VOA) and the British Broadcasting Corporation ( BBC) descended from their Olympian heights and came to Nigeria to interview her. This Professor, who later became chairperson of the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board, had gone on to add Chanca Piedra and other herbs to her list of eye drops. In Asia, Chanca is used, among other things, to lower blood pressure, burn blood sugar in diabetes, crush kidneys and gall bladder stones. Isn’t, therefore, relevant for eye care, to dissolve cataract, which is a stone, reduce eye pressure because it is hypotensive, and lower blood sugar excess in the eye is one of the great problems of this organ? In any case, isn’t glaucoma, for example, now being linked to a new concept, Diabetes of Brain Cells, which is said to cause this glaucoma symptoms in the eye? If there had been no exchange for giving and taking in medicine, how would these forward strides have been recognised, appreciated and taken? For me, we all live in a world in which the table of the Lordis richly laden.Only this week, I was told of a new arrival for vision care in the Nigerian market. It is a 14mls cold compress gel for people who experience strained eyes from long exposure to cell phone, computer and television. It comes from Edible Herbs.We are to take and enjoy blessings from the richly-laden Table of the Lord provided we do not hurt our fellow human beings in the process. I cannot be a judge of fellow humans. That often ends up in trying to remove the mote in another person’s eyes and leaving beams in my eyes to grow. Nevertheless,I feel uncomfortable when I realise I have taken something without giving something in return. Can you pick groundnuts from the tray of a groundnut seller, for example, without paying him or her appropriately for the purchase? That is what we do when we one-sidedly approach THE TABLE OF THE LORD for whatever blessing(s) profit(s) our existence…

    Is Dr Samuel Johnson listening? I believe I have tried well enough to hold a healthy balance between him and his critics, oh no, I mean the followers of his surprising healing story who would like to be close to him and receive help from him. I appreciate why Dr Samuel Johnson may wish to limit his patients base to no more than about 100 persons. If he practised medicine for 47 years in the United States before he had to suddenly return home, this doctor must be in his 70s like me. At this age, I cannot see myself opened up to about 100 consultations every day in whatever form, be it physical present in a consulting room or correspondence by electronic mail or the telephone. The problems of such a plight remind me of a Chiropractor mentioned by doctor Andrew Weil in one of his books which, if my memory serves me right, is titled Spotaneous Healing. This Chiropractor gave no medicines or injections to induce spontaneous healing in his patients. He believes health challenges occur when the bones of the scalp are misaligned with his fingers, he searched the scalp of his patients for misalignment and massage them still he achieve balance in the bone settings. He was easily the most sort after doctor in his community. He enjoyed the work. However, he began to dislike it when age began to catch up with him. This doctor gave no notice when, for the sake of his own health and life, he relocated to another town to continue his practice on a lower level. In the town to which he relocated, he changed the name of his practice persons over the age of 18. He did not place his little light beneath the bushel. In no time, his reputation grew again. The patients he fled from now knew his whereout and came after him. This is a way of advising doctor Samuel Johnson that a man with a mission cannot successfully hide himself from.the world or from the persons he is sent to. We are not on our own. We are the last links in a long chain. Our conditions are sometimes placed in our paths as obstacles we will surmount to learn about them, to gain strength and knowledge in doing so and hand to humanity this message from distance part of the universe. As doctor Samuel Johnson is a Christian and went to church two weeks ago to offer his gratitude to the Almighty Creator of All, I wish to take the liberty to say two things I would have told him that if I were one of the pastor’s in section. I would in this regard remind of the biblical statement ‘I knew there before I form there in thy mother womb”. That means we all were somewhere before we came here for a purpose. Was doctor Samuel Johnson’s purpose to link up with medical lay persons who would help him to cure his prostate cancer and, thereby,humble him to humble his profession and expand the frontier of healing beyond intellectual capacities into the realms of Mother Nature and of the human Spirit. For anyone who has come to such a recognition, I would even add that some of our health challenges are even taking up by us as Mission Karmas before we were formed in the womb of our mothers.

    In conclusion, I am convinced that the man or woman of herbs is never wanting in knowledge of them. In this regard, this column will present next week another herb which many senior Nigerians are saying has taken away their prostate gland nightmares.

  • Doctor debunks claim that frequent sex lowers prostate cancer risk

    Doctor debunks claim that frequent sex lowers prostate cancer risk

    A physician, Dr. Sam Adegboye, has debunked the claim that frequent sexual activity reduces the risk of prostate cancer in men.

    Adegboye is the Assistant Chief Medical Officer and General Practitioner at the Federal Teaching Hospital at Ido-Ekiti in Ekiti State.

    The physician debunked the claim in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

    He said: “Most of the neurological articles do not agree with that because one of the journals checked was the American Journal of Neurology. We discovered some bias.

    “There is what we call prospective, in which you take the research from now until the future. You know, everything must be evidence-based.

    “In a nutshell, I do not think it is supported by neurologists; and there is no concrete evidence to support that, though some traditionalists support it.”

    Adegboye said there was a test men could do, called the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, to check their prostate condition.

    He said: “Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BHP) is a condition in which the prostate gland grows larger than normal. It’s also known as benign prostatic hypertrophy or an enlarged prostate.

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    “BPH means a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland, also commonly referred to as benign prostatic hyperplasia.”

    According to him, it is a condition where the prostate grows larger than normal but the growth is not cancerous.

    “It often causes urinary difficulties in older men due to the enlarged prostate pressing on the urethra.

    “Benign means non-cancerous and prostate is gland in the male reproductive system surrounding the urethra, while hypertrophy is an increase in the size of cells, leading to enlargement of the prostate gland,” Adegboye said.

    He added: “If the prostate gets bigger, it makes one not to pee and it is called urinary obstruction.

    “A man does the test to check if there is prostate cancer. You know benign prostate hyperplasia means the prostate gets big and prevents men from urinating well.

    “When the obstruction happens, a doctor has to place a rubber (catheter) into the penis of the man, which assists in bringing out the urine.

    “For the PSA, if it is high, it shows a person has prostate cancer or benign prostate hypertrophy.

    “BPH does not show that an individual has (prostate cancer) because several activities can cause hormones to be raised.

    “If a man goes for a test and had sex two days before the time, that hormone will give a false reading because it is going to be high; or he does something strenuous, or had surgery done, it might raise the PSA.”

  • ‘Every ageing man is at risk of prostate cancer’

    ‘Every ageing man is at risk of prostate cancer’

    Dr Ademola Oyekan consultant radiation and clinical oncologist at the Lagos State University (LASUTH) speaks with Gboyega Alaka on Prostate cancer, why it is rampant among people of black race, plus the difference with prostate enlargement and urinary tract infection.

    What exactly is prostate cancer?

    Prostate cancer is cancer arising from the prostate. The prostate gland is a gland in the urinogenital system. It is a gland responsible for producing some parts of the things that form the semen. The gland lies beneath the bladder and the urethra – that is the pipe that takes urine.  The urethra moves through it to come out on penis. So urine moves from the bladder, through the urethra. So the cancer that arises from there is called prostate cancer.

    We also hear of prostate enlargement. Is it the same as prostate cancer or they are different?

    The prostate gland is a tissue; it is a fibromuscular gland; that means it has about two or three components – the fibros component, the muscular component and the epithelia component. The epithelia component forms at the periphery of the prostate. Now there are different zones and different lobes inside the prostate. Observe that the prostate enlargement occurs in the fibro muscular part. As we grow older, from the age of maturity, the prostate gland enlarges every decade. For different people, depending on their family history, the increase varies. When the prostate enlargement is occurring, especially in that fibromuscular area, it enlarges to such a point where it will be causing cessation of urine, where the person will have to wait a while for his urine to flow. That is benign prostate enlargement. Almost every male grow up to have it. However, prostate cancer occurs in the periphery of the prostate gland. Most times, it does not cause enlargement but it can cause some nodular thickening of the prostate. So for a number of people, when they have benign enlargement and are going through difficulty in urinating or frequency of urination, they may decide to go for prostate surgeries; and at this point, they may find some traces of cancer in it. That means it is possible for somebody to have both benign prostate enlargement and prostate cancer. However, somebody may have prostate cancer without a benign prostate enlargement, and that is the one that is most dangerous, because most patients don’t have symptoms until it is very advanced.

    Is it possible to reverse the enlargement, such that the person can begin to urinate freely?

    Yes, there are drugs that can be used to make the size of the prostate gland smaller.

    Are the drugs dangerous or have negative impact on the sexual capability of the patient?

    No, the drugs will not affect the libido, but the presence of that enlargement itself could be impinging on the nerves around the prostate gland and could cause eventual problem with libido, that is erection or ejaculation as the case may be. Bear in mind, however, that at some point, the drugs may begin to fail.

    There have been talks about exercise playing a role in reversing prostate enlargement; what’s your take on this?

    I don’t think there is any concrete evidence regarding that. What happens is that exercises can make you burn some fat and maintain a normal BMI. When you do that, some parts of your body may be shrinking. But this thing is not 1+1. It may happen, it may not happen; and that’s why I say it is inconclusive. There is no conclusive evidence but there may be a role theoretically.

    Another way to reduce prostate enlargement is to undergo surgery, whereby they try to bore a hole through the urethra. That surgery is called TURP – Transurethra Resection of the Prostate. TURP is another way and it is more long-lasting, more durable compared to use of drugs.

    Let’s talk about Urinary Tract Infection; what role does it play in passing urine? Can one have it without having prostate enlargement? A lot of people have urinary tract infection and think they have prostate enlargement or prostate cancer.

    Urinary tract infection is an infection that occurs as a result of external factors, maybe infection that you pick in the toilet, but it’s not very common with men. It’s more common with women because they have a shorter urethra. What men have is more of STI translating to urinary tract infection, which they pick from their women or sexual partners. Of course if somebody has the habit of storing urine, he can develop urinary tract infection.  If you have a habit of waiting too long before going to empty your bladder when you are pressed, you run a higher risk of developing urinary tract infection, although it is treatable.

    Now, does that increases the risk of prostate cancer? I’d say yes – because of chronic inflammation. And it’s not just prostate cancer, but risk of other diseases, because it’s like a part of the body is getting injured and healing, and cells are being formed and destroyed. When this process keeps going back and forth, anything can happen.

    Now, what are the causes of prostate cancer?

    Prostate cancer does not have a cause that we can lay our hands on as we speak, but we can say there are things that increases the risk. One is increasing age. As you grow older, you have a risk of having prostate cancer. Among the whites, they have a higher life expectancy – about 70; but for us black, it is lower – about 68/69. So the age for prostate cancer in most backs, especially in Nigeria, is 68. We have seen prostate cancer in younger persons, but what we have observed is that the younger a person is, the more aggressive the disease is likely to be.

    Any reasons for that?

    Well, cancers generally are usually more aggressive as outliers; that is when found in the age you are not supposed to see them. If you see a person in his 40s having prostate cancer, by the time you diagnose it, it may even have reached an advanced stage. Whereas you can see a 75/78 year old man, who doesn’t even know he has cancer. Most times, you just detect it by incidence. And you may even realise that it is still localised and there is no problem. But basically, increasing age increases the risks. If there is a family history in first degree relatives, maybe a brother with prostate cancer, such a person has a high risk of developing prostate cancer.

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    Another thing is race. Prostate cancer is commoner in blacks. It has been established that black people have a higher level of testosterone, and this cancer feeds on that hormone. So it is more aggressive when you find it in a black man than white men, and more common. And there are some genetic or hereditary factors; there are some genes that when somebody has a mutation (when a gene has been altered), it increases the risk. And one of the major gene that evolves is the Human Prostate Cancer Gene HPC1. The other is BRCA2 (Breast Cancer Antigen 2). Those are some genetic factors that have been implicated. There are others, but we’ll leave it at this two for this discussion.

    The other thing is diet. When you consume foods that are high in animal fat and are low in vegetable, there is a higher risk.

    What about alcohol and cigarette?

    Well that of alcohol is not convincing, no conclusive evidence; however, smoking increases the risk. So also obesity.

    Is it treatable?

    Yes it is treatable, but it can also reoccur. So if it’s detected early, the options are to do surgery or radiotherapy. Sometimes, we can also do what we call Watchful Waiting. This is for people who have a life expectancy that is less than ten years. Let’s say you have a 90-year-old male patient that has prostate cancer who may be looking frail and also have other diseases that can kill him faster. So you may want to watch and only manage the symptoms. That is watchful waiting or observation.

    Another way to go about it is Active Surveillance, where somebody has prostate cancer that is early, but you feel that because of the type, you may just keep checking from time to time: checking his PSA, doing scans for him and biopsies, to know if the prostate cancer is becoming advanced. So by the time you notice a change – because somebody can have prostate cancer that can remain at the same level for four years and you have to be monitoring it; then you swing into action to treat. But primarily, to eradicate it in the early stage is to do surgery. Surgery involves the removal of the prostate and the surrounding structure- the seminal vessels.

    Does that take away the sexual power of the man?

    It is not supposed to, but part of the complication is that it could affect the libido of the person and ejaculation. So many a times, a lot of men run away from surgery. So even though a cancer can be treated and cured by surgery, patients prefer to evade it because of that complication. But according to our ethics, it is important for us to enlighten our patients about the complications associated with every procedure before we carry it out; so that they can take informed decision and we will not be held liable. Also we need to get consent.

    Is it automatic that the procedure would lead to loss of sexual ability?

    No it is not automatic, but the risk is there, about 20 to 30 percent.

    What is the rate of recovery from prostate cancer?

    In the US and advanced countries where they have a more advanced approach to health, they have a system that works where the patients who are on insurance go for screening. We don’t have that system here. Here, people pay out of pocket, so it may be out of sheer will. Over there, they do it out of compulsion, because if they don’t do it, the insurance company can sue them. And if they present at an advanced stage, the insurance company can refuse to pay because the patient was reckless. Here we have a lot of advanced cases, where patients present when it is already at advanced stage. They may have been having the symptoms for years but only present when it has become unbearable. Sometimes, some people present to the hospital but the clinicians may not be properly trained to interpret the symptoms, and may end up playing it down, thereby making the patient  miss that early diagnoses. So there, they are able to treat at early stage and patients recover better.

    The other advantage is that among the white, the disease is far less aggressive compared to blacks; remember what I said about the testosterone concentration among blacks being higher. So most times when we pick it, it is usually at advanced stage.

  • Seven things to know about caring/living with prostate cancer patient

    Seven things to know about caring/living with prostate cancer patient

    Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the prostate gland. It is a small walnut-sized organ located just below the bladder in men. The prostate gland plays a crucial role in the male reproductive system by producing seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm.

    Prostate cancer, which is one of the most common cancers in men especially in older age groups, is rarely diagnosed in men younger than 40 even though the risk of developing the disease increases with age. 

    Several factors can increase the risk of developing prostate cancer including family history of prostate cancer in a father or brother alongside obesity, a high-fat diet and lack of physical activity.

    Some of the symptoms of prostate cancer includes; Frequent urination-especially at night, difficulty starting or stopping urination, weak or interrupted urine flow, blood in the urine or semen, pain or discomfort in the pelvic area or lower back, erectile dysfunction, etc.

    Caring and supporting a loved one who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer can be a challenging but important role. Here are some tips for living with and caring for a prostate cancer patient:

    1. Learn about the disease

    Learn all about prostate cancer, its stages, treatment options, etc. Having and understanding the disease will help you provide informed support and engage in meaningful discussions with the patient and the patient’s doctor when necessary.

    1. Always have open and honest communication

    It is very important to maintain and have an open and honest communication with the patient. Encourage them to share their thoughts, fears, and concerns. Be a good listener and provide emotional support when needed.

    1. Accompany them to their medical appointments

    Whenever the time or oppurtunity presents itself, offer to accompany the patient to medical appointments. Take notes, ask questions especially with things you need more clarity wit. This would in turn help you when the patient need help. and providing emotional support during these visits can be immensely helpful.

    1. Respect patients’ decision

    The patient may make decisions that do not align with you probably based on their preferences on different things. It is important to respect and support their choices and/or decisions.

    Read Also: My battle with prostate cancer, by Pat Utomi

    1. Assist with daily activities

    Depending on the patient’s treatment and/or side effects, they may need assistance with doing regular daily tasks. Offer to help with cooking, cleaning, transportation to medical appointments, etc. Help the patient manage their medications, including keeping track of doses and the time of the when they are to take it while ensuring they follow their treatment plan as prescribed by their oncologist.

    1. Provide emotional support:

    Prostate cancer can be emotionally challenging. You need to be a source of emotional support and encouragement. Reassure the patient during moments of anxiety, uncertainty or when they become overwhelmed. It’s also important to understand that the patient may need time alone with their thoughts, kindly respect their privacy and boundaries at that time while also letting them know you are there and available when needed.

    1. Maintain normalcy:

    Strive to maintain a sense of normalcy in the patient’s life. Engage in activities that they would usually do as well as hobbies that bring them joy so as to help reduce stress.

    Remember that your role as a caregiver is essential in helping the patient cope with the disease. It can be emotionally challenging, but providing support, love, and understanding can make a significant difference in their journey.

    Additionally, consider seeking support for yourself to help you navigate the challenges you may face while caring for the patient.

  • 10 receive free treatment for prostate cancer

    Ten patients have benefitted from the Brachytherapy (implant) treatment for prostate cancer.

    The brachytherapy is said to be a new form of treatment for prostate cancer that is less time consuming.

    A Medical Consultant and Radiation Oncologist who developed the treatment Dr. Oludare Folajimi Adeyemi said the disease is the commonest cancer among men.

    Read Also: Buhari, Obasanjo, others seek collaboration against cancer

    Dr. Adeyemi stated that one out of every seven men is likely to develop the disease.

    Conducting reporters round his health facility, Dr. Adeyemi said brachytherapy treatment of the disease would go a long way in helping Nigerians suffering from the disease.

    “Although, there are other options of treating prostate cancer, the brachytherapy method is very unique, accurate and it offers high degree of cure to the patient with prostate cancer, especially when it is done at the early stage of the disease.

    “What we do in this discovery is to implant a radioactive inside the prostate and right inside the prostate, begin to release radiations which ended up killing the cells. It damages what we call DNA and when DNA is damaged, the cells cannot actually produce any longer.

    “Over 10 patients have benefited from this new discovery of mine and the beauty of the brachytherapy treatment method is that, it is done one time and between two and three hours, you are done and the patient can go home”, Dr. Adeyemi said.

    Representative of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Ofene Enang commended Dr. Adeyemi for the breakthrough in the treatment of prostate cancer in Nigeria.

    Dr. Enang said the NMA was at the forefront of canvassing for reversal of medical tourism in the country.

  • ‘40 per cent of male population have prostate cancer’

    About 40 per cent of men’s population are suffering from prostate cancer, a consultant Urologist, Dr Saliu AbdulWaheed, has said.

    AbdulWaheed said the older one becomes, the higher the chances of developing prostate cancer.

    He spoke during a free Prostate Cancer Screening organised by the family of the late Oyebade Arasim Adesoye in partnership with the NASFAT Agency for Zakat and Sadaqat (NAZAS).

    The late Adesoye died of prostate cancer.

    Two hundred people benefitted from the exercise.

    AbdulWaheed, however, said not all the people that have prostate cancer will die.

    “This is why we are creating the awareness so that people can go for a check-up and detect it early. Prostate cancer is age-related and may not occur in some men,” he said.

    He advised men over 40 to go for regular medical screening.

    The Adesoye family, who are still grieving over losing their brother to prostate cancer, said the programme would help many, who were not aware of the killer disease, to take it seriously and prevent avoidable death.

    Their representative, Otunba Ogungboyega Adesoye, said the free screening and treatment was a form of reflection on the circumstances that surrounded the death of his brother.

    He said: “It is unfortunate that we lost my elder brother to prostate cancer. Efforts to cure him were fruitless. He was ignorant of the disease.  At the initial stage, he was not aware of it. He used traditional medicines. By the time he told us, it was too late. We took him to a London hospital, to no avail.

    “We organised the cancer screening because we believe many Nigerians may also die of the disease if they are not informed of its danger. If anybody is detected to have developed it, we can follow up with treatment,” he said.

    NAZAS General Manager Alhaji Sulaimon Akanni encouraged people to cater for the health of others, saying it is a form of charity.

  • One out of nine men prone to prostate cancer – Expert

    Dr Yunusa Nda, a medical practitioner, says that one out of every nine men are prone to prostate cancer, therefore, they should always go for early diagnosis and treatment.

    Nda, who disclosed this in an interview with our reporter in Abuja on Friday, said receiving cancer diagnosis remained one of the most terrifying experiences someone could have.

    According to the medical expert, roughly one in every nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime.

    Read Also:‘We need Men Affairs Ministry for prostate cancer’

    “Fortunately, a prostate cancer diagnosis is far from a death sentence.

    “Roughly, 96 per cent of men treated for prostate cancer of all stages are alive, 15 years after diagnosis and treatment,” he said.

    He said that many prostate cancer cases tended to be slow-growing, meaning that the tumours grew so slowly that they were unlikely to be life-threatening or to impact quality of life.

    According to Nda, it may also take up to 30 years for a prostate tumour to grow large enough to cause symptoms.

    Nda said that for men diagnosed of prostate cancer, doctors often recommended` watchful waiting or active surveillance. “

    According to him, this is because surgery and radiation therapy come with their set of risks such as post-treatment incontinence.

    The expert said, however, that surgery and radiation therapy were recommended for early stage I and II prostate cancer.

    “Sometimes, blood tests and biopsies may indicate that a guy’s cancer is likely to spread, thus, making surgery or radiation necessary.

    “Men may undergo a prostatectomy to remove the entire prostate gland since it is not possible to simply remove the tumour due to the shape of the prostate,’’ Nda said.

    According to him, generally, surgery is preferred for younger men who have a better chance of not developing post-surgery side effects such as impotence and incontinence.

    He explained that, once the prostate was removed, those concerned would no longer able to produce semen.

    The medical expert added that the testicles would, however, continue to make sperm cells which would be reabsorbed by the body.

    The medical practitioner said that doctors could perform a traditional open surgery, which involved making an incision in the lower abdomen.

    According to him, alternatively, a surgeon might perform a robot-assisted operation, which requires using special instruments to perform the operation through a handful of tiny, keyhole-sized incisions, leaving patients with less pain and scarring.

    Wikipaedia defines a prostatectomy as surgery to remove all or part of the prostate, a walnut-sized gland located between a man’s bladder and penis.

    It says that a prostatectomy might be needed, if one has prostate cancer, severe urinary symptoms, or an enlarged prostate.

    NAN

  • ‘We need Men Affairs Ministry for prostate cancer’

    Former Chief Medical Director (CMD), University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Prof Sulyman Kuranga has recommended the establishment of ministry of the aged or ministry of men affairs to bring relief to age-related diseases like prostate cancer.

    The professor of Urology added that “there should be improvement in the financing of tertiary health institutions so that up-to-date equipment can be purchased and relevant training provided.”

    This according to him “will reduce medical tourism abroad.”

    Prof Kuranga canvassed more government’s investment in prostatic healthcare development and research in the country.

    He said this while delivering the 180th inaugural lecture of the University of Ilorin, describing prostate cancer as an “epidemic in waiting”.

    The lecture was entitled:  “The experience of a urological surgeon in a tertiary institution in Sub-Saharan Africa.”

    The don pointed out that the disease is one of the leading causes of death among males worldwide, saying that it can be cured with early detection and prompt access to good medical facilities.

    Prof. Kuranga, who was also a former Director of the Academic Planning Unit of the University of Ilorin, identified ageing, family history, race, obesity, sexually transmissible diseases, cigarette smoking, vasectomy, benign prostatic hyperplasia, among others, as some risk

    factors for prostate cancer, adding that, ‘early detection of prostate cancer is the ultimate of any Urologist so that the scourge and the menace of this disease can be reduced to the barest minimum.’

    He pointed out that “government at all levels should organise and conduct a programme to promote awareness and early detection of prostate cancer as a matter of policy.”

    “This programme”, according to Prof. Kuranga, “may include but not limited to the dissemination of information regarding the symptoms and signs of prostate cancer, the risk factors associated with it, the benefit of early detection, the treatment and consequences of delay in treatment.” He explained that due to the nature of the health financing system in the country, it is difficult for most patients to fund the treatment required for prostate cancer.

    According to the inaugural lecturer, “prostate cancer is a potentially curable disease; hence, being diagnosed of it is not a death sentence”. He, however, noted that most patients present themselves late, thereby making palliative option the only treatment for the

    physician.

    Pointing out that “facilities for radiotherapy are limited to five teaching hospitals in Nigeria and there is no time whereby all the five are optimally functional at the same time”, Prof. Kuranga called on the National Assembly to “enact a law that would allow the aged in Nigeria to access free medical treatment for prostatic disease”. He said that “in the developed world, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United State of America, when one attains the age of 60 years, transport and medical services are obtained free of charge. The aged are put into consideration when laws are being formulated.”