Akeredolu: 10 facts to know about prostate cancer
The Internet was set buzzing on Wednesday following the death of the Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, who died after a prolonged battle with prostrate cancer and leukemia.
According to a statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, the governor died in Germany on Wednesday after battling prostate cancer.
His unfortunate demise increases the advocacy for men to ensure that go for regular checks as an early detection will go a long way in increasing their survival chance.
Below are 10 facts about prostrate cancer.
- Prevalence: Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men worldwide. In the United States, it’s the second most diagnosed cancer among men, after skin cancer. More than 52,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year on average that’s 144 men every day.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer reported that in Nigeria, prostate cancer constituted 29.1% of all male cancers in 2018, with an age-standardized (world) 1-year prevalence rate of 16.1.
- Risk Factors: Age, family history, and ethnicity (African American men have a higher risk) are significant risk factors for developing prostate cancer.Every 45 minutes one man dies from prostate cancer that’s more than 12,000 men every year. 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
- Symptoms: Early stages might be asymptomatic, but symptoms can include difficulty urinating, blood in urine/semen, erectile dysfunction, bone pain, and discomfort in the pelvic area.
- Screening: Prostate-specific antigen blood tests and digital rectal exams are common screening methods. A prostate exam is a screening test to look for early signs of prostate cancer.
The average prostate exam age is 50, but some people may need to start screenings as early as age 45. A prostate exam can’t tell you for sure if you have cancer, but an abnormal result means that you’ll probably need a prostate biopsy.
- Treatment Options: Treatment choices vary based on cancer stage and individual circumstances. Options include active surveillance, surgery (prostatectomy), radiation therapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.
- Gleason Score: Prostate cancers are graded using the Gleason scoring system, which assesses how aggressive the cancer cells appear under a microscope. Higher scores indicate more aggressive cancer.
- Survival Rates: The survival rate for prostate cancer is generally high, especially when detected early. Five-year survival rates are close to 100% for localized cases.According to the American Cancer Society: The relative 5-year survival rate is nearly 100% The relative 10-year survival rate is 98% The 15-year relative survival rate is 91%
- Side Effects of Treatment: Treatments like surgery or radiation can lead to side effects such as incontinence, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, and bowel problems.
- Advancements in Research: Ongoing research aims to improve early detection methods, develop more targeted therapies, and understand the genetics behind prostate cancer.
- Lifestyle Factors: Adopting a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, and avoiding tobacco, might lower the risk of developing prostate cancer or improve outcomes for those diagnosed.
