Early Detection
The University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) has rolled out a prostate cancer awareness and treatment campaign aimed at promoting early detection and treatment of the disease, with men and their partners encouraged to make regular health checks a priority.
Consultant Urologist, Dr Matthew Yamoah Kyei, who is also Head of the Department of Surgery at the University of Ghana Medical School, said a combined effort from men, families and healthcare providers was necessary to address factors that often prevent men from seeking care until their conditions become complicated.
He said prostate cancer was a significant health concern among men in Ghana, with about one in five men in Ghana and the surrounding region estimated to develop the disease during their lifetime.
Dr Kyei said September was being used to intensify education and encourage men to undergo appropriate prostate assessments, stressing that early detection could enable conditions to be managed before they became complicated and required prolonged treatment.
Prostate Health
Dr Kyei said prostate cancer was a disease of the prostate gland and could be associated with urinary problems, blood in the urine and sexual or erection-related difficulties.
He urged men not to wait until such symptoms became severe before seeking medical attention, stressing the importance of regular health checks and professional assessment.
He said men who normally underwent annual medical check-ups could use September as an opportunity to include prostate health in their assessments, alongside checks for conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
Shared Responsibility
Dr Kyei said reducing the impact of prostate cancer should not be left to men alone, as women, families, communities and healthcare providers all had roles to play.
He said wives and partners could encourage men to make time for medical check-ups and reassure them that taking care of their health was important.
He recalled an instance in which a man who visited his consulting room first asked him to speak to his wife on the telephone to assure her that he was at the hospital before discussing his health concern.
Dr Kyei said the incident demonstrated the influence family members could have in helping men prioritise their health.
Better Access
Dr Kyei said healthcare facilities also needed to address structural barriers that could discourage men from seeking care.
He called for improved privacy, additional consultation rooms and appointment systems to reduce the amount of time men spend at hospitals.
He said it could be discouraging for a man to arrive early in the morning and remain at the hospital until the afternoon for a consultation lasting only a few minutes.
According to him, the average time a man spent with the urology team was about seven minutes, despite some patients spending almost an entire day at the hospital.
He therefore advocated appointment systems that would allow patients to attend at scheduled times and return to their work and family responsibilities.
Community Care
Dr Kyei also called for stronger community-level healthcare services to reduce the need for patients to travel long distances to major hospitals for routine follow-up care.
He said CHPS compounds could, where appropriate, be strengthened to provide services such as prescription refills for patients whose diagnoses had already been established.
Early Treatment
Dr Kyei said early presentation was particularly important because conditions that could have been managed relatively quickly could become complicated when treatment was delayed.
He said some men were concerned about losing income or being away from their families when admitted, but delaying treatment could ultimately result in longer hospital stays.
“Men should come early so that you can be able to spend a few hours to deal with the issues and then they are free to go back to their work and their responsibility,” he said.
Screening
Dr Kyei said health professionals across the country were participating in the awareness activities and encouraging men to seek information and appropriate prostate assessments.
He said the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test was available at various laboratories and could help health professionals assess whether further investigation was necessary.
He said the PSA test generally cost between GH¢20 and GH¢150, depending on the facility, while the examination at participating facilities was free.
Men Speak
Isaac Amoah, a male participant, said fear, embarrassment, financial concerns and the time spent at hospitals could discourage some men from seeking medical attention.
“I think many men are afraid of what the doctor might tell them,” he said.
Isaac said privacy was important when discussing urinary or sexual problems with health professionals and that early detection would motivate him to include prostate checks in his routine medical care.
Women Support
Eva Nkrumah, a female participant, said women could play an important role by encouraging men to take their health seriously.
“Sometimes a man may ignore a health problem, but his wife or partner may notice the changes and encourage him to see a doctor,” she said.
Eva said women should approach the issue calmly rather than making men feel pressured or embarrassed.
She said embarrassment, cultural attitudes and limited information could make discussions about prostate health difficult between couples.
The campaign therefore seeks to make prostate health a priority among men while encouraging families, communities and healthcare providers to support early detection and treatment.
By-Andre Mustapha Nii Okai and Princess King-Quaye
