An army of scientists, oncologists, policymakers and advocates has called for urgent reforms to stem Africa’s prostate cancer crisis.
They said prostate cancer has become the leading health risk among African men, yet most cases are detected very late, when treatment is less effective.
At the just-concluded Science of Advanced Prostate Cancer in Africa (ESOPCA) Conference 2025 in Lagos, experts from Nigeria, Cameroon, Kenya, Europe and the United States declared that collaboration, funding and awareness are the only way to save African men from needless deaths.
The meeting, led by Prof. Folayemi Abedena in partnership with the Trans-Atlantic Prostate Cancer Consortium (CaPTC), drew institutional backing from the Mayo Clinic, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University and other research leaders.
The Federal Government used the platform to reassure stakeholders of its commitment to cancer research and improved access to care.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, who was represented by the Special Adviser on Technical Matters, Dr Kehinde Ololade said the initiative aligns with the government’s renewed health agenda.
“The government is keen on promoting evidence-based practice in cancer management. With collaboration, synergy and shared commitment, we can improve access to innovative treatment and reduce the burden of prostate cancer across Africa,” he said.
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For the President of the Nigeria Cancer Society (NCS), Prof Abidemi Omonisi, the crisis is already a national emergency.
He painted a grim picture: Prostate cancer has overtaken liver cancer as the leading cancer among Nigerian men for more than three decades.
Yet, most men arrive at hospitals when the disease is already advanced.
“Even among the highly educated and influential, diagnosis often comes too late. The stigma, the fear, and the reluctance of men to seek help until they are completely down is costing us lives,” he lamented.
He also said access to specialists remains alarmingly poor.
“In a country of over 200 million people, more than 16 states still have no oncologist. In some states, one doctor is covering entire regions, working late into the night because of overwhelming demand. Patients are left stranded or forced to travel hundreds of kilometres just to receive basic care.”
Beyond personnel, Omonisi faulted the federal government funding for cancer, wondering how it could have earmarked only ₦150 million for breast, cervical and prostate cancer.
“How do we expect to treat thousands of patients across Nigeria with that? The truth is that most Nigerians are paying out of pocket, and the costs are staggering. Drugs, surgery and radiotherapy run into hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions of naira. How many families can afford that?”
He called on the National Assembly to prioritise cancer funding in 2026, stressing that Nigeria must follow other African nations in establishing government-backed cancer support funds.
“Cancer should not be a death sentence simply because of poverty,” he warned.
Omonisi also highlighted the cultural stigma around orchidectomy, surgical removal of the testes, a traditional approach to managing advanced prostate cancer.
“Some men are so afraid of losing their testicles that they delay going to hospital, even when they have clear symptoms. But medicine has advanced. There are modern hormone therapies, radiotherapy and targeted drugs that can manage prostate cancer without resorting to orchidectomy. Unfortunately, these options remain too expensive for many Nigerians.”
He insisted that with early detection, men can live with prostate cancer for decades.
Like other health sectors, oncology is bleeding talent to foreign countries. Nigerian oncologists are relocating not only to Europe and America but also to Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone where pay is significantly higher.
“In those countries, oncologists earn between $6,000 and $7,000 monthly. Here, we pay less than $1,000. Why should doctors stay and suffer when their colleagues across the border are earning seven times more?”
Nearly half of Nigeria’s oncologists are clustered in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, leaving patients in the North-East and other underserved regions without access to specialists.
‘Prostate cancer is not a death sentence’
Despite the grim statistics, Omonisi urged Nigerian men to embrace regular screening.
“Any man who notices urinary difficulties, persistent back pain, weight loss or unusual symptoms must go for a check-up immediately. Screening saves lives. Prostate cancer is not a death sentence if detected early.”
Professor of Hematology and Oncology at Mayo Clinic, Florida, and founder of CaPTC, Prof. Folakemi Odedina, said African men face unique risks that demand homegrown research.
“The majority of prostate cancers we see in Africa are late and advanced because we do not catch them early. That makes them very deadly,” she explained.
She stressed that Africa must take part in clinical trials rather than rely solely on data from non-African populations.
“Through clinical trials, we can develop drugs and interventions that are personalised to us as Africans, instead of just using drugs tested on non-Black populations and praying they work for us.”
Odedina identified cooking practices, especially charred meat, as a surprising but important lifestyle factor.
“The way we cook red meat in Nigeria, burnt and dried over open fire, releases chemicals linked to prostate cancer. That is evidence-based.”
She listed protective habits men should adopt: eating tomatoes rich in lycopene, taking vitamin D supplements, eating colourful fruits and vegetables, exercising, and avoiding smoking.
“The key is awareness, screening and timely treatment. We have men who have lived with prostate cancer for over 30 years. It doesn’t have to be a death sentence.”
If Nigeria’s situation is dire, Cameroon’s is worse. Prof. Nkegoum Nkegoum, National Coordinator for Cancer Control at Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Health, revealed that the country records more than 20,000 new cancer cases annually but has only one outdated cobalt machine for radiation therapy.
“Eighty percent of our patients don’t even reach hospitals. They end up with traditional healers. And cancer treatment is largely restricted to Yaoundé and Douala. For rural dwellers, care is simply out of reach.”
He explained that decades of focus on HIV/AIDS and malaria meant non-communicable diseases like cancer were neglected. Language barriers have also slowed progress, as most oncology literature is published in English while Cameroon is largely French-speaking.
Like Nigeria, Cameroon faces brain drain, with doctors leaving for Canada and the U.S.
Nkegoum called for stronger ties with Nigeria, which has relatively better infrastructure and research.
“Cameroonian students can benefit from Nigerian universities, and patients can access treatment here. With partnerships, we can create new opportunities and reduce the cancer burden in both countries.”
By the close of the Lagos conference, one message resonated: prostate cancer does not have to be a death sentence. But without investment, awareness and collaboration, Africa risks losing more men in their prime.
As Prof. Omonisi put it: “We are not just talking about statistics. We are talking about fathers, brothers, leaders, breadwinners. If we don’t act now, the future cost will be unbearable.”
