By Chioma Obinna

Lagos Medical Laboratory Scientists, have raised the alarm over the increasing cases of prostate disorders among Nigerian men, stressing the need for men to take protect their prostate.

The Chairman of the Association of Medical Lab Scientists of Nigeria, AMLSN, Lagos State Branch, Mr Abioye Akanji who expressed worry over the prevalence of prostate pathology in recent times across hospitals stressed the need for a holistic approach to effective medical diagnosis for disease conditions.

Akanji said the World Health Organisation has described prostate cancer as the leading cancer diagnosis in men and the second leading cause of cancer death in men, with about 299,010 expected cases. “Among Nigerian men, it accounts for the most common and deadly cancer with about 16.3 to 32.8 deaths per 100,000 men, hence the need to escalate discussions on the topic.”

Akanji who further explained the need for early diagnosis said some of the key risk factors of the diseases are non-modifiable.

“The key risk factors like age, if somebody is adding age it gets to a point it begins to experience excessive urination and some symptoms but you can’t modify it because you can’t change your age.

Other key factors like family history too, but more importantly, if we know all these, we can begin to advocate that there is a need for us to do screening once a year to check your prostate. There’s a need to do some other health checks because early presentation of any disease condition and treatment increases the likelihood of survival.”

He said depending on the age, men should go for what they call “prostate-specific antigen screening”, depending on their age once a year but if they are 50 and above, they can do it twice in a year which is once in six months.

He said to get a definitive diagnosis for any disease condition there must be a multidisciplinary approach because one health care provider alone does not solve the whole problem.

“In recent times, we found out that among men, prostate disorders, be it prostate cancer, prostatitis and some other prostate disorder have been a devil that has befallen men and we found out that, it is beginning to be very alarming in our various hospitals lately. So, that stimulates our thoughts that there’s a need for us to escalate this topic.

“We also found out that in the past, it used to be for older men but now, we found out that, as young as a 40-year-old man will wake up in the night to pee more than 15-20 times, it calls for concern and from there, other issues start creeping in.”

Akanji who spoke during the AMLSN 59th Annual Scientific Conference last week, with the theme: “Prostate Disorder: Integrating Multidisciplinary Strategies for Precision Diagnosis” also lamented the brain drain in the health sector.

According to him, medical lab scientists are not exceptional, especially in Lagos state as a minimum of two Lab scientists out of five leave the country at one point or the other.

Stating that the japa syndrome has depleted the manpower to a very alarming degree, he said: “Even in the private sector, people are still leaving.  You employ them this month, and the following month they are gone. It is affecting the private sector and the public sector in recent times.”

Delivering his keynote address entitled: “Holistic Approach to Prostate Disorders: Integrating Multidisciplinary Strategies for Precision Diagnosis”, Associate Professor College of Medicine, University of Lagos and Consultant Urological Surgeon, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Dr Rufus Ojewola said stressed the need for a scientific approach and accurate diagnosis in medical practice.

Ojewola noted that in Nigeria’s environment, complications from prostatic disease, adding that in a study they found that 48.6 per cent of men who have symptoms of prostatic disease have never visited any hospital or health facility.

He also disclosed that the study also found that the majority of men beyond the age of 48 have symptoms of prostate cancer and in terms of treatment, only 29.5 per cent of men have visited recognised hospitals to seek help.  While the majority either use traditional means or a combination of other and traditional means to get help.

According to the American Cancer Society, when detected early and managed properly, the survival rate for prostate cancer shoots up to over 99 per cent.

There is also a very good chance of survival.  But the key is if detected early, and that is where Laboratory scientists are to support that early detection and that early diagnosis.