Screening as key to checking prostate cancer rise in Nigeria

Elvis Ogaga, a 58-year-old prostate cancer survivor. His story is a testament to the importance of regular screenings and early detection.

Ogaga’s father passed away from prostate cancer 24 years ago, which made him aware of his increased risk.

He started getting his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels checked in his late 40s, and all seemed well until his check-up in August 2021.

At 56, Ogaga’s PSA levels were slightly elevated, and his doctor suggested retesting a few months later.

Unfortunately, his PSA levels jumped to almost seven by December 2021. This led to an MRI and biopsy, which revealed high-grade prostate cancer with a Gleason score of nine.

Experts say a biopsy is a procedure to remove a piece of tissue or a sample of cells from your body so that it can be tested in a laboratory.

Ogaga underwent a robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy to remove his prostate in February 2022.

Ogaga’s recovery was smoother than expected, thanks to his wife’s support and medical advancements.

He didn’t experience significant side effects like erectile dysfunction, and his PSA levels became undetectable eight weeks after surgery.

Ogaga’s experience encourages men to prioritise their health and stay vigilant. Even without symptoms, being proactive can save lives.

Dr. Chidiebere Ogo, a urologist, has sounded the alarm on Nigeria’s growing cancer crisis, particularly prostate cancer, which claims countless lives annually.

As a Chief Consultant at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Ogo has witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of late detection.

He urges the Federal Government to establish cancer screening centres nationwide to combat this scourge.

Ogo expressed worry about the alarming statistics revealing that 80 percent of prostate cancer patients seek medical attention when the disease has advanced beyond treatment.

He said prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Nigerian men.

According to him, Nigeria has the highest number of cancer registries in the world, with 44 registries contributing to global cancer data.

Ogo, therefore, called for a comprehensive approach, advocating for a multi-faceted strategy to tackle cancer.

He recommended a nationwide screening by encouraging early detection through widespread screening programs.

Ogo opined cancer screening should be included in the national health insurance scheme.

He said primary healthcare should be strengthened to reduce cancer cases and educate the public on cancer risks, symptoms, and prevention.

Effective management of prostate cancer does not come easy, according to experts.

It requires a multidisciplinary approach and services of all branches of medicine, says a consultant urologist, Dr. Rufus Ojewola, an associate professor, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

According to him, to diagnose, treat, and manage a patient with prostate diseases in addition to the doctor also requires input from all branches of laboratory medicine.

“It takes more than one specialist to diagnose, treat, and manage a patient with prostate disease.

“Sometimes, you need to send samples to the laboratory or ask for radiological evaluation by ultrasound and other imaging studies to get complete information so that you can treat patients properly.

“As an urologist, I ask the patients questions about symptoms and I examine to get their signs, but of course, I will need to depend on results of what was found in the blood, in urine, and other things, he said.

Some myths, beliefs, and misconceptions trail prostate cancer. One of them says that if a man engages in regular sex of up to 21 times per month, it reduces his chances of developing prostate cancer, but Ojewola refutes that.

According to him, there is no known cause of prostate cancer, but age and race heredity are the major risk factors of the disease.

“Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men beyond the middle age.

“There have been some insinuations and misconceptions about prostate cancer; most people have attributed it to spiritual attack, having multiple sexual partners, and sexually transmitted diseases; but scientifically, these are not true.

“The major causes of prostatic disease are the ageing process, which causes the prostate to enlarge.

“Also, racial predispositions, because prostate diseases are generally more common in black men than men of other races, and the third most important cause of the disease is hereditary, he said.

Mr. Felix Ofungwu, Medical Director of ISN Medicals, advises men to ensure they present prostate disorder cases early to the hospital, saying that early detection was key to the management of the condition.

When detected early and managed properly, he said, there is a 95 percent chance of survival.

He, therefore, encouraged men to go for the PSA test as it was imperative for early detection, saying that 14 percent of cancer-related deaths in men were caused by prostate cancer.

While detection and treatment are key, sensitisation of the public, particularly men, is also crucial.

Mr. Abioye Omoyemi, therefore, advocates increased advocacy and education about prostate disorders to make people more informed about the health condition.

Omoyemi said the cases and rate of prostate disorders were alarming, with detection among younger men even more disturbing.

According to him, in times past, cases of prostate cancer were found among very older men, but these days, a man of 38–40 years can be diagnosed with prostate cancer.

“In recent times, prostate disorders—be it prostate cancer, prostatitis, or other prostate diseases—have been a devil that has befallen man. And this is beginning to be very alarming in our various hospitals lately.”

Emeka Iweala, a professor of biochemistry at Covenant University in Ota, appeals to the Federal Government to commit more funds to cancer research as a major step forward.

Iweala, a Centre Leader at the Covenant Applied Informatics and Communication, African Centre of Excellence (CApiC-ACE), recommends that more resources should be devoted to prostate cancer investigation.

Iweala said doing so would help to stem the burden of cancer-related deaths in the country, commending the federal government for establishing the Nigeria Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT).

“There is a need to create more awareness so that people would know about cancer and also know their status, Iweala said.