As part of activities marking the 2024 World Prostate Cancer awareness campaign, stakeholders have called for increased sensitisation on early diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, one of the deadly cancers, especially among men in Nigeria and other places.
They made the call at during the 2024 prostate cancer awareness and screening organised by Covenant Applied Informatics and Communication Africa Centre of Excellence (CApIC-ACE), Covenant University, Nigeria in partnership with Prostate Cancer Transatlantic Consortium (CApTC) and Beulah World Initiative (BWI) which was held within the week at the Ado- Odo Otta Local Government auditorium.
In his presentation, Prof. Emeka Iweala, Centre Leader, CApIC-ACE/CApTC, Covenant University, Ota, said the knowledge campaign has become necessary to educate the populace on basic facts and myths about prostate cancer through increased awareness and screening for early detection of the disease and called on the government to bring more resources in this direction.
The Biochemist said that they embarked on the awareness creation annually so that people would know about prostate cancer and not only knowing, but they should understand what it is, understand the causes and symptoms of prostrate cancer, saying it is not death sentence but curable.
Professor Iweala cautioned the public against self medication, adding that anyone experiencing symptoms like dribbling of urine, excessive urination at night, frequent urination, urge to urinate and leaking, urinary retention, or weak urinary stream should consult the right medical personnel in order to get early diagnosis and treatment.
He assured that research works is being intensified and discoveries made through biomarkers outlining the prognosis of the disease to help in the treatment of prostate cancer.
Speaking, Dr Chidiebere Ogo, a Urologist and Chief Consultant at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State warned men above 40 years of age against excessive consumption of red meats to reduce the burdens of Prostate Cancer.
According to him, excessive intake of red meats by males above 40 years has the tendency of increasing the risk of Prostate Cancer and appealed to persons with family history of cancer to consult experts for screening.
“Prostate Cancer is the most common cancer afflicting and killing men in the country.
“It is the most common cause of cancer related deaths among men in Nigeria.
“The prostate cancer could be fatal if this disease is not detected early and appropriate treatment was not administered on the patient, “the Urologist cautioned.
Chichi Ononiwu, Founder of Beulah World Initiative (BWI), in her presentation tagged: “Developing a Superior Mindset Against the Onslaught of Cancers”, quoting WHO, described cancer as a large group of diseases that can start in almost any organ or tissue of the when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably.
Ononiwu explained that cancer as a disease has tentacles that is physical, spiritual, social, saying the physical and social impacts can be relentless, presenting challenges not just at diagnosis but through treatment and even well into recovery.
She identified factors that influence how a patient responds to diagnosis of cancer, manages the ongoing challenges of treatment, and navigates their post treatment life to include interaction with care team, social support, coping style, personality and socioeconomic status.
Alhaji Adetona Waheed, a beneficiary of the medical outreach programme lauded the consortium of experts and Covenant University for the awareness and screening exercise as this has made him to gain more knowledge about prostrate cancer.
Also, John Adigwe said, “It has been awesome. I commended the organisers because the knowledge gained at awareness and screening was great. It broadened my knowledge about prostate cancer and some myths about the disease and sexual relationships and red meat intake solved.”
At the end of the screening exercise, results from blood samples taken on the spot were shared with the participants individually.
