‘Blacks, 50+ men at higher risk’ — all you need to know about prostate cancer

On Wednesday, Rotimi Akeredolu, former governor of Ondo state, died while in office. 

He was said to have died of complications from prostate cancer.

In August, Pat Utomi, a professor of political economy, disclosed that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2022 after a biopsy.

Utomi said in the buildup to the 2023 elections, he occasionally visited a cancer centre in Ikeja after campaigns.

He added that whenever he spoke about his struggles with cancer, it dawned on him that many people of his age bracket are also battling the ailment.

Here are a few things to know about prostate cancer.

WHAT IS PROSTATE CANCER?

Let us begin by explaining what the prostate is.

The prostate is the walnut-sized gland found in males.

It is located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum, surrounding the urethra – the tube that carries urine out of the bladder.

The prostate makes some of the fluid that is part of semen.

When a man has prostate cancer, it means the cells in the prostate gland have begun to grow out of control.

It is unclear what causes these cells to grow out of control.

TYPES OF PROSTATE CANCER

There are different types of prostate cancer and each one tells which type of cell the cancer started in.

The most common type is adenocarcinoma of the prostate and nearly everyone diagnosed with prostate cancer has this type.

It develops in the gland cells that line the prostate gland and the tubes of the prostate gland.

Other types of cancer that can start in the prostate include: Small cell carcinomas, neuroendocrine tumors, transitional cell and carcinomas and Sarcomas. However, these types of prostate cancer are rare.

WHO IS AT RISK?

Certain men are at higher risk of prostate cancer due to certain factors.

Some of these factors include:

1. Age: The risk of prostate cancer increases as men age. It is most common after age 50.

2. Race: Black people are said to have a higher risk of prostate cancer than people of other races.

It is also more likely to be aggressive or advanced in blacks.

3. Family history: If a blood relative, such as a parent, sibling or child, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, the risk increases for other relatives.

A family history of breast cancer may also increase the risk of prostate cancer in the bloodline.

SYMPTOMS OF PROSTATE CANCER

In its early stages, prostate cancer usually shows no symptoms.

But when the illness becomes advanced, it may show symptoms like difficulty in urinating, decreased force in the stream of urine, blood in the urine, blood in the semen, bone pain, unintentional weight loss and erectile dysfunction.

HOW IS PROSTATE CANCER DIAGNOSED?

Prostate cancer usually grows slowly.

Most tumors are diagnosed before the cancer has spread beyond the prostate.

Screenings can help nip prostate cancer in the bud.

For those at average risk, the screening may begin at age 55. Those with high-risk may need to begin screening earlier.

TREATMENT OF PROSTATE CANCER

Different types of treatments are available for prostate cancer.

Doctors are best placed to advise on which type of treatment the patient should go for.

The different types of treatments include:

1. Expectant management: If the doctor thinks the prostate cancer is unlikely to grow quickly, he or she may recommend that the patient does not treat the tumor right away.

Instead, the patient can wait to see if symptoms manifest or persist.

With this method, the cancer can be monitored by performing prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests and prostate biopsies regularly.

2. Surgery: An operation known as prostatectomy is carried out where doctors remove the prostate.

Radical prostatectomy removes the prostate as well as the seminal vesicles (glands that produce the fluids that will turn into semen).

3. Radiation therapy: With this method, high-energy rays similar to X-rays are used to kill the cancer.