Scientists advocate holistic approach to prostate disorders prevention

Following a noticeable increase in the number of cases of prostate diseases in the nation, the Lagos Medical Laboratory Scientists have advocated for a comprehensive approach to men's health.

The scientists bemoaned the frightening rise in prostate problems nationwide, which includes benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer.

Any anomalies or illnesses that affect the prostate gland in the male reproductive system are referred to as prostatic disorders, according to the health website Britannica.

It said that the prostate starts to degrade when the production of the male hormone, androgen, declines.

Speaking at the Association of medicinal Lab Scientists of Nigeria's 59th Annual Scientific Conference, the specialists urged a complete approach that incorporates preventive care, lifestyle modifications, and medicinal treatments.

Mr. Abioye Akanji, the Chairman of the AMLSN, Lagos State Branch, voiced concern over the rise in prostate pathology in hospitals in the recent past.

He claims that, with an estimated 299,010 cases per year, prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis among men and the second greatest cause of cancer-related mortality among men, according to the World Health Organisation.

"There is a need to intensify discussions on this topic because among Nigerian men, it is the most common and deadly cancer, accounting for 16.3 to 32.8 deaths per 100,000 men," he continued.

Akanji emphasised the importance of early detection while pointing out that certain major risk factors for the diseases are unavoidable.

He clarified, saying, "The main risk factors include age; if someone is getting older, it can reach a point the person begins to experience excessive urination and some other symptoms, but you can’t modify it because you can’t change your age.
"There are other crucial indicators, such as family history, but more importantly, if we are aware of them all, we can start advocating for men to get screened for prostate cancer once a year. Additional health checks are necessary since the chance of survival is increased when a disease condition is detected early and treated.

According to him, a multidisciplinary approach is necessary to provide a definitive diagnosis for any disease condition, as one healthcare provider cannot resolve the issue on their own.

"Recently, we discovered that among males, prostate disorders—including prostate cancer, prostatitis, and other disorders—have been a curse that has befallen men and we also found out that it is beginning to be very alarming in our various hospitals lately. So, that stimulates our thoughts that there’s a need for us to escalate this topic.
"It used to be reserved for older men, but we've discovered that men as young as 40 years old will wake up during the night to urinate more than 15–20 times. This is concerning, and other problems start to arise from there."

The AMLSN chairman expressed concern about the health sector's brain drain but said that medical lab scientists are not unique, particularly in Lagos state where at least two out of every five lab scientists leave the country at some time.

According to Akanji, there has been a concerning reduction in workforce due to the Japanese syndrome.

“People are still leaving, even in the private sector. This month, you hire them, and the next month, they are gone. It is affecting the private sector and the public sector in recent times,” he expressed.

Delivering his keynote address titled, ‘Holistic Approach to Prostate Disorders: Integrating Multidisciplinary Strategies for Precision Diagnosis’, Associate Professor College of Medicine, University of Lagos and Consultant Urological Surgeon, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Dr Rufus Ojewola stressed the need for a scientific approach and accurate diagnosis in medical practice.
He mentioned the challenges associated with prostatic disease in Nigerian settings, citing research showing that 48.6% of men exhibiting prostatic disease symptoms had never been to a hospital or other healthcare facility.