…as Experts say prostate cancer not death sentence
Survivors of prostate cancer in Ekiti State have called on government at all levels to subsidize drugs and treatment of the disease in the country.
Some of the prostate cancer survivors made the call at the 1st iCCaRE Science of Survivor Symposium CaPTC Ekiti Hub held at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, ( EKSUTH) Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.
One of them, a 73-year-old man, Mr. Stephen Ojo revealed that he was diagnosed with the ailment five years ago and took bold steps to go for necessary check ups and later went for an operation in order for him to survive and live long.
He explained that after the operation at EKSUTH he overcame the ailment and was able to urinate which was difficult for him while nursing the prostate cancer.
While decrying that some prostate cancer patients died due to their failure to visit the hospital for necessary medical attention urged Nigerian men that are 40 years and above to embark on regular check up.
“I discovered that I had prostate cancer five years ago. It started when I found it difficult to urinate and I was urinating often, going to the toilet about five times in the night. That was how I got to know.
“I attended the Police Clinic in Ado-Ekiti but later came to EKSUTH for the operation. “The operation was expensive and I paid almost N400,000 and the prices of the drugs have been jumping high” .
“Up till now, I am using drugs which are very expensive and we want the government to subsidize prostate cancer drugs so that a lot of people who are suffering from the disease can see relief because a lot of people died because there is no help.
“Everybody that is 40 and above should be doing a PSA test every year because it is better treated when it has not gone advanced. When it is done at an early stage, there is a possibility for a cure.”
Also, a retired soldier who is 76-year-old, Mr. Sylvester Akindele disclosed that during the early signs of the disease, he misconstrued it for an infection but later visited hospital before it was discovered that it was prostate cancer.
He said: “I discovered it in 2012 and never had the knowledge that it was prostate cancer. I thought it was an infection and I was using a local herb to treat it. One of my children told me to visit the hospital where I did so many tests around 2017 and I was told to go for an operation.
“I am an NHIS patient. I paid a little percentage of the bill, while the other was settled by the government, saying such wouldn’t have been possible, if he was not on NHIS.
He appealed to the Government to launch an initiative to assist individuals suffering prostate cancer to foot the bills for treatment.
Others survivors who spoke at the event commended the Nigerian health workers for the achievement, saying it would have been impossible for them to travel abroad for the treatment of the ailment due to the huge financial implication.
Speaking at the event, Dr Ademola Idowu, a Consultant Chemical Pathologist, and Head of Department , Chemical Pathology in EKSUTH said the event was organized for survivors to share their survival stories.
According to him, the organisation is ready to educate the masses in the communities and worship centres noting that prostate cancer is not a death sentence.
Dr Idowu said: “1st iCCaRE Science of Survivor Symposium is organized worldwide to bring together people that have been afflicted with prostate cancer, who have survived by means of medical treatment to share their story so that this can be used to encourage others that prostate cancer is not a death sentence, especially ,when it is diagnosed early.
“When we have people who have survived, they come and see the little we can do and they survive. They can go back to society and share their story. We are ready to follow them to their worship centres and communities to educate the people.
“It is not free but cheaper than having the disease because your lifestyle and psychology will be affected once you think you have it. We have not got a body to sponsor treatment of cancer for free”
In his submission, Dr Dada Samuel who represented the Chairman Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) EKSUTH; Prof. Dare Ogunlusi disclosed that EKSUTH has eminent personalities, surgeons and cancer specialists that help to diagnose, treat and monitor prostate cancer patients.
According to him, ” Cancer generally is actually deadly but through research and advancement in medicine, some cancers can properly be managed in our setting including prostate cancer. We have had stories of patients surviving from prostate cancer.
“In tertiary facilities like EKSUTH, we have specialists. Their main area of treatment is cancer management, cancer detection and cancer awareness. There is a particular centre dedicated to breast cancer and we have eminent professionals, surgeon and cancer specialists that help to diagnose, treat and monitor cancer patients.
“Once any disease is diagnosed on time, the chances for survival for that illness is very high. If the cancer is at a very early stage and is detected, maybe it will just be ordinary removal of that particular tissue with or without probably drugs or chemotherapy.
“My advice to Nigerians is that whatever age or you are 40 years and above, male or female need to go for regular check up.
Virtually every part in the body, including the skin can be cancerous. Get checked up, examined and investigated and ensure that you see a specialist.”
The Inclusive Cancer Care Research Equity ( iCCaRE) Consortium for Black Men was formed to address the disproportionate burden of prostate cancer seen in African American men. This Consortium is led globally by Prof. ( Mrs ) Folakemi Odedina who is also the International Principal Investigator for Prostate Cancer Transaltantic Consortium ( CaPTC). The Ekiti Site for CaPTC is led by Prof. Patrick Adegun; Provost of College of Medicine, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Dr. Ademola Idowu; Head of Department of Chemical Pathology, EKSUTH and Dr. Abidemi Omonisi; founding Director of Ekiti Cancer Registry who is the Principal Investigator for the Project in Ekiti State.
Highlights of the event included the distribution of cash gifts and souvenirs to the survivors on behalf of the Prof. (Mrs) Folakemi Odedina , formation of a group for Prostate Cancer Survivors, and decorating the Chief Medical Director, EKSUTH; Prof. Kayode Olabanji and Chairman , Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) ; Prof. Dare Ogunlusi as ambassadors of CaPTC Ekiti Site.