The Inclusive Cancer Care Research Equity (i-CCARE) Consortium for Black Men has urged men aged 45 and above to undergo routine Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) testing. The consortium said regular screening remained vital for the early detection and successful treatment of prostate cancer, the leading cancer affecting men.
Dr Ayodeji Ogunmola, Team Leader and Principal Investigator of i-CCARE at the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH), Lokoja, made the appeal on Monday July 6, during the sixth monthly Prostate Cancer Patients’ Support Group Meeting held at the hospital in Lokoja.
Ogunmola, a consultant urologist, described prostate cancer as the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths within the group. He identified early diagnosis as the most effective way to improve survival and treatment outcomes among prostate cancer patients.
Ogunmola encouraged men aged 45 and above to go for routine PSA testing, explaining that PSA screening identifies men at greater risk, enabling doctors to conduct confirmatory investigations before commencing appropriate treatment.
Delivering a lecture, Consultant Public Health Physician, Dr Abimbola Adesanya, highlighted the importance of strong social networks during prostate cancer treatment. She said religious institutions, communities and support groups also played significant roles in helping patients cope with diagnosis and treatment.
Patients attending the meeting praised the organisers for providing valuable education and emotional support through the monthly sessions, stressing that the meetings had improved their understanding of prostate cancer and strengthened their ability to manage their health effectively.
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