Prostate cancer is a type of cancer which occurs in the prostate. It is a small walnut-shaped gland in men that contains the seminal fluid that nourishes and carries sperm. One of the most common forms of cancer in people, is prostate cancer.
A man’s prostate contains the seminal fluid that nourishes and holds sperm.
Signs include urination trouble but there are no signs at all sometimes.
Some types of prostate cancer are slow to grow. Surveillance is recommended in some of those cases. Many forms are harmful and need radiation, surgery, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, etc.
2018 Figures indicate that prostate cancer, after lung and breast cancer, is the third leading cause of death worldwide.
Prostate cancer is the second most prevalent malignancy in men worldwide (after lung cancer).
Meanwhile, according to Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) data for 2018 in Rwanda; prostate cancer is the third leading cause of death followed by breast and cervix.
Prostate cancer is the leading cause of 17 per cent of death in people.
Between the years 2017 and 2018 they reported 1,012 and 198 cases of prostate cancer in all referral hospitals in Rwanda.
Nonetheless, RBC ‘s director of the Cancer Diseases Unit, Marc Hagenimana, says these might not be the only cases they have, noting that this is because prostate cancer may be incorrectly diagnosed much like any other disease.
A World Health Organization (WHO) survey for 2018 stated there are at least 700 cases in Rwanda.
Hagenimana says this means that only a third of the cases that were to be diagnosed and treated were received in the country.
At first, Hagenimana says there are no signs and symptoms of this form of cancer — and so there are high chances of further complications due to delayed diagnosis.
“Prostate cancer may be asymptomatic at the early-stage and often has an indolent course that may require only active surveillance,” he says.
Since the cause of some cancers is not clear, and prostate cancer in particular, there are some risk factors that may contribute to it.
Findings show that one is at high risk of prostate cancer with age , especially above 65 years.
Prostate cancer risk factors
Dr Francois Uwinkindi, RBC’s non-communicable diseases division chief, says race is one of the risk factors for prostate cancer.
He claims black people hold a greater risk for prostate cancer than men of other races, for reasons not yet known.
And that prostate cancer is more likely to be aggressive or advanced in black people too.
Another risk factor, he notes, is family history, stating that if you have prostate cancer in your family, then the risk may increase.
He also notes that if you have a gene family history that increases the risk of breast cancer or a very strong breast cancer family history, your prostate cancer risk may be higher.
Uwinkindi claims obesity plays a part in prostate cancer too. He states here that, in addition, obese men diagnosed with prostate cancer may be more likely to have advanced disease, which is harder to treat.
Complications of prostate cancer
Complications include impotence, erection problems as well as metastasis, Hagenimana says, meaning cancer can spread into other organs , especially the bones.
He further explains that prostate cancer can spread to nearby organs like the bladder, or travel to the bones or other organs through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
“Prostate cancer that spreads to the bones can cause pain and broken bones. Once prostate cancer has spread to other areas of the body, it may still respond to treatment and may be controlled, but it’s unlikely to be cured,” he notes.
Another problem, he notes, is incontinence, adding that prostate cancer can cause urinary incontinence, as well as its treatment.
The medic points out, however, that incontinence care depends on the form one has, how serious it is, and the probability will change over time.
Prevention of prostate cancer
As for prevention, Uwinkindi says prostate cancer is difficult because the causes are not well known.
But he says that by watching for signs and symptoms one can hinder it. By doing so, medical advice can be sought early on for screening and diagnosis, thus preventing further complications. “For people at high risk of developing prostate cancer, it’s better to seek medical attention in time, just to be on the safe side,” he says.
Meanwhile, Joseph Uwiragiye, head of the nutrition department at Kigali University Teaching Hospital (CHUK), says certain adoptive steps are to be put in place to avoid cancer risks in general including prostate. For example, he says, it is important to choose a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables.
He also says it is important to avoid high-fat foods and to choose a variety of fruits , vegetables and whole grains, since fruits and vegetables contain many vitamins and nutrients that can improve one ‘s health.
“Eating a healthy diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables can improve your overall health,” he says.
The nutritionist also says exercise is necessary because it improves one’s overall health, helps control weight and also improves mood.
Keeping a healthy weight is also important, he says. Here, he says, if one’s current weight is safe, it’s important to focus on maintaining it by exercising most days of the week. Uwiragiye says that the way to go is if one has to lose weight, exercise and less calories consumed.
Treatment of prostate cancer
Hagenimana says there is no test for prostate cancer in Rwanda, like several other African countries. Treatment is achieved mainly by surgery.
When he says the surgery to remove the prostate is performed in the early stages; radiotherapy is available at the Rwanda Military Hospital.
Sometimes, he notes, certain medications such as Abiraterone acetate may be administered by a medic.
Alternatively, says Hagenimana, there is another procedure known as hormone therapy, which is actually hormone therapy.
He further states that prostate cancer hormone therapy is a procedure that prevents the male hormone testosterone from developing or entering cancer cells in the prostate.
“Most prostate cancer cells rely on testosterone to help them grow. Hormone therapy causes prostate cancer cells to die or grow slowly,” he says.
