Immigration Officers’ Wives Tackle Prostate Cancer
Members of the Association Wives of Immigration Officers
Chiemelie Ezeobi
With the prevalence of prostate cancer in men, the Immigration Officers’ Wives Association (IMMOWA), Lagos Zone, has taken up the gauntlet to tackle the ailment even as it reiterated its commitment to ensure the wellbeing of the male folk.
Chiemelie Ezeobi
With the prevalence of prostate cancer in men, the Immigration Officers’ Wives Association (IMMOWA), Lagos Zone, has taken up the gauntlet to tackle the ailment even as it reiterated its commitment to ensure the wellbeing of the male folk.
In a recent seminar organised for officers of the service at the Immigration Office in Ikeja, Lagos, to create awareness, the group said the choice of the ailment as a seminar topic was because of its deadly but silent nature.
Speaking to THISDAY, IMMOWA Secretary, Mrs. Emordi said although women are usually more concerned with the cancer of the breast, the fact remains that few men are aware of prostate cancer which is quite deadly and leaves the victims permanently in pain.
She said the forum was held to educate the men on the signs to look out for to recognise prostate cancer, as well as its diagnosis and treatment options. “For someone to work effectively, he or she needs to be healthy and that is what we are promoting,” she said.
In his address, renowned urologist and Head of Department, Surgical Outpatients, General Hospital Gbagada, Dr. Duro Ayinde, said prostate cancer has become an issue with Nigerian men.
According to him, carcinoma of the prostate is the most common malignancy in adult males, adding that the disease has significant economic effect on the populace.
Quoting statistics according to estimated hospital incidence, prostate cancer in men is 127/100,000 and is caused by either sexually transmitted diseases, systemic infection or hereditary.
He said men at high risk of prostate cancer are African -American men (Black Race men), men with one or more first-degree relatives (brother, father) with prostate cancer or men with first-degree relatives who received a prostate cancer diagnosis at an early age (younger than 65 years).
He listed the symptoms to look out for as asymptomatic, lower urinary tract symptoms and haemospermia but noted that it is necessary to promote greater public understanding of the ailment, particularly the importance of early detention and treatment.
Its detection, he said can be through the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test and Digital Rectal Exam (DRE). He noted that even when the symptoms are not present they can help detect the disease at an early stage when treatment is more effective and potentially has fewer side effects.
On the treatment for prostate cancer, he said cited surgery as a common cure but added that hormonal treatment, radiotherapy which uses radiation to destroy cancer cells and Chemotherapy as other measures.
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