News
Monday, November 16, 2015
November sets off prostate awareness
IT DOESN’T HURT: Men over 50 years are strongly advised to go for prostate cancer screening especially in times like this when the service is offered freely for all.
KAMPALA, UGANDA - The Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) has launched the November-Movember campaign following a successful breast cancer awareness and screening campaign last month.
Men are being encouraged to go for free prostate cancer screening at UCI, Victoria University Healthcare Centre and regional referral hospitals across the country.
Fred Okuku, an oncologist and Head of the Cancer Research Program at UCI said last week, “Prostate cancer is the number one type of cancer among men in Uganda. It normally affects men at their 50th birthday and above. Prostate cancer is on the rise and it is the leading cause of cancer related deaths among men in Uganda.”
Speaking during a news conference, Dr. Okuku said concerted efforts must be taken by all concerned to prioritize awareness creation about prostate cancer among the public.
“We must worry because our people do not have any idea about the existence of this disease. If you do not know your enemy, then your enemy can easily kill you.” Okuku said. He said prostate cancer is very difficult to detect because the disease is slow and mild at early stages with hardly any symptoms, but if detected early, prostate cancer can be treated and cured.
Dr. Okuku said in every 100 people, 85% of them do not show any symptoms of prostate cancer and will not even die of the disease though they actually have prostate cancer.
He said there is need to create awareness among the public so that the 15% in every 100 people who show positive signs and test positive to prostate cancer can be found and helped.
This he said can successfully be achieved by creating awareness and encouraging men over the age of 50 years to go for prostate cancer screening especially in times like this when the service is offered freely for all.
Dr. Okuku said research by the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed high risks of contracting cancer among people who over eat red meat especially processed meat. He said dieting and regular exercise are very important in the fight against cancer.
Dr. Okuku said eating fruits and vegetables regularly and fish diets help reduce such risks. He said alcohol was also found by WHO to raise the risks associated with cancer. He advised people to reduce consumption or better still stop altogether He said Uganda Cancer Institute registered over 4000 cancer related cases last year alone and that cancer cases are increasing over the years.
The head Comprehensive Community Cancer Program (CCCP), UCI, Dr. Nobel Mugisha, said Movember is campaign to raise community awareness and treatment about prostate cancer using different media platforms for the entire month.
He said prostate cancer presents a number of signs and symptoms among others, difficulty in passing urine, reduced urine stream, frequent passing of urine, lower back pain, passing blood in the urine, erectile dysfunctionality leading to infertility among men to mention but a few.
He said more risks to prostate cancer are associated with obesity and it is also common among people with the same genetic predisposition with whom, whose family member/s have ever suffered from the disease. The Director, UCI, Jackson Orem, said Uganda Cancer Institute has the best cancer management centre. He said the center was chosen to manage a holistic cancer treatment in East Africa.
He said East African countries have resolved to set up an excellence centre at UCI by next year. He encouraged Ugandan to seek treatment at the centre because cancer cases detected at centre at the early stage have been treated. He advised cancer patients seeking for treatment abroad to consult with them so they advise and guide on the best places they can find the best treatment elsewhere. Cancer experts said treatment for severer prostate cancer can be as costly as Ushs1m about $333 per month but this economic burden can be avoided by regular screening and early treatment if tested positive.
By Sam Okwakol, Monday, November 16th, 2015