Experts have said prostate cancer is now the leading cause of cancer deaths in Nigerian men.
A statement from Project PINK BLUE, a cancer-fighting non-governmental organisation on Saturday disclosed this during the 2023 Men on Blue+ prostate cancer webinar organized by Project PINK BLUE, in collaboration with Inclusive Cancer Care Research Equity for Black Men Consortium, and JNC International to mark the International Men’s Day.
Quoting the World Health Organization‘s (WHO) Globacan Report, the experts said in 2020, prostate cancer new cases increased to 15,306 while deaths increased to 8,517 .
Prof Pat Utomi, a prostate cancer survivor and a former presidential candidate, said prostate cancer is taking away Nigerian men in their prime.
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Utomi who is also a professor of Political Economy called on Nigerian men to see prostate health as an obligation.
According to him, there is a lot of ignorance about prostate cancer.
He said, “I wonder why we are not doing enough to get men aware. There are lots and lots of men of my age who are having problems with their prostate, but they are hiding it. Unfortunately, they are dying.
“My father passed away of cancer at age 52, hence I was very sensitive and always did my annual medical checkups including prostate screening.”