My Uncle’s battle with prostate cancer has taught me a lot about life and the importance of community and has given me a deeper understanding of the state of our healthcare system in Africa.
Adichie, my Uncle, is a straightforward man and a firm believer in two principles: love God and love your family.
He never compromised these values.
He said it so often that one day, in the vehicle on the way back from a visit, I unintentionally used his favourite saying describing his love for God and for family in our chat. When I arrived home and we were talking on the phone, he referred to how I used his favourite “life words” in our chat, and it showed in his voice that he was very proud of me and how I was imbibing the culture of loving God and family.
I found it quite astonishing that my Uncle Adichie never missed out on enjoying life’s little pleasures, most of which others might overlook.
My aunt, who happens to be a fantastic cook, is a chef’s favourite when it comes to making jollof rice! Every Sunday at 6:30 a.m., we’re greeted by the mouthwatering aroma of her cooking—a delightful scent that has become a beloved tradition for all of us.
Around this time last year, I recall sitting in front of his porch with his first son, Adichie Junior. We debated a football game over cold bottles of homemade Kunu and tasty pancakes. The sound of the children’s happy laughing as they played hide-and-seek around the house was so soothing that I stayed a bit longer outside just to savour that moment. What I wouldn’t give to be a child again, I thought to myself.
As a parent, my Uncle has created a legacy of love, strength, and unity among his children, grandkids and extended family.
This lively compound, usually known for its cheerfulness, felt different one faithful Thanksgiving Sunday.
After we returned home from the Thanksgiving service at church, my aunt called in the evening. She confirmed our suspicion that all was not well.
Earlier that morning, she and my Uncle had gone to the hospital to receive his test results.
“They said he has prostate cancer,” she said amidst tears and sobs while on the call.
For the next few minutes, our vocabularies failed us. We were all in shock—shock strong enough to make us all confused. Truth is, we were terrified, too, not just for his health but also for the accompanying emotional and financial strain. It was truly unwelcoming news, one we never saw coming.
For some months, my Uncle had been battling an unknown ailment, and he had been to several hospitals. The last hospital he visited directed him to see a specialist—a Urologist who prescribed a series of tests that led to this sad discovery.
Uncle Adichie was never one to miss out on a family celebration, a cool Sunday evening sit-out, or an opportunity to give a fatherly speech from his well of wisdom. Now, he spends his days navigating a web of hospital visits and treatment options, each carrying a price tag that threatens to drain his life’s savings.
When members of his church heard about the news, they rallied around my Uncle and his family, showering them with love and care; not only that, but these members would go further in their show of love by raising funds for my Uncle’s treatment. Their kindness and selflessness made me understand what “community” was indeed about—a sense of belonging.
According to a research article published in the National Library of Medicine in 2019, prostate cancer is the second most common malignancy in males and the sixth leading cause of cancer mortality in men, with a relatively higher death rate in men of African descent. Prostate cancer is the sixth leading cause of cancer mortality in men. Yet, it remains shrouded in stigma, misinformation, and neglect.
The grim reality is that African males are more likely to develop severe forms of this illness. Unfortunately, these conditions are often detected only at advanced stages, when treatment options are limited and expensive. Such circumstances raise the troubling question of whether existence itself is unfair to African men.
This situation extends beyond a mere medical emergency; it serves as a call to action for greater awareness, early detection, and improved access to treatment.
The Burden Of Prostate Cancer In Africa
Before we go further, I would like to explain what this disease called prostate cancer is and shed light on some factors that influence its development.
Prostate cancer is a cancer that occurs in the prostate. The prostate is a small, walnut-shaped gland in males that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. Many prostate cancers grow slowly and are confined to the prostate gland, where they may not cause serious harm.
However, while some types of prostate cancer grow slowly and may need minimal or even no treatment, other types are aggressive and can spread quickly.
Old age, race (mostly blacks), family history, and obesity have been identified as factors that can increase and influence the development of prostate cancer in men.
In 2019, a study by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) highlighted that from 1990 to 2019, the global occurrence of prostate cancer rose by approximately 169%, while deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) increased by 109% and 98%, respectively.
It is important to note that as the occurrence of prostate cancer and disability-adjusted life years of the disease rises, so does the economic burden.
A research article published by Taylor and Francis (2019) reported that the 10-year treatment costs for prostate cancer range from $46,000 in low-risk cases to nearly $189,000 in high-risk patients.
Cultural Barriers And The Silence Around Prostate Cancer
Across African societies, the subject of prostate cancer is seen as an abomination. Most men fear to seek the medical help they need because of embarrassment, shame, or the belief that the disease is a repercussion for a life decision they once made at one point or the other.
This silence itself is deadly. By the time symptoms like frequent urination, pain, or blood in the urine become unbearable, the cancer often would have spread, making therapy more challenging and less successful.
This silence must be broken. Eliminating myths and encouraging men to get treatment early may be accomplished largely through public health campaigns, community engagement initiatives, and the participation of religious and traditional authorities.
Thankfully, in Nigeria, organizations like the Prostate Cancer Foundation Nigeria (PCFN) are already leading the effort, delivering free tests and spreading awareness about the need for early detection.
Did You Know?
Lycopene, a compound found in tomatoes, has been long recognized as a protective agent against prostate cancer?
Well, now you know, you are welcome.
Medical Breakthroughs In Prostate Cancer Care
Prostate cancer is more likely to strike men who possess specific inherited genetic characteristics.
These characteristics include Lynch syndrome and hereditary abnormalities in the BRCA gene.
When, how, and whether to screen men at high hereditary risk for prostate cancer are all unclear.
To find out more about the regularity and prematureness of prostate cancer, researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) are utilizing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the prostate in men who are at high risk of getting the disease.
Additionally, they are examining whether periodic checkups in this men’s category can identify tumours early before they metastasize.
Regardless of the challenges faced in the fight against prostate cancer, I believe there is reason for hope.
Recent medical breakthroughs are sparking new hope in the hearts of patients and their families. One such advancement is the development of precision medicine, which uses genetic testing to modify medical care for individual patients. This approach has shown promising results in nursing aggressive forms of prostate cancer, particularly in African men who are more likely to have a high-risk form of the disease.
Immunotherapy has proven to be another notable breakthrough; this treatment uses the body’s immune system to fight the disease. Innovative treatments like sipuleucel-T and checkpoint inhibitors are paving the way for a brighter future for patients with advanced prostate cancer.
But for the growing use of telemedicine, most African men living in rural areas would never have dreamt of accessing professional care without needing to travel far from home—saving precious time and removing the financial strain of travelling far to seek treatment.
In addition to the health benefits of Lycopene, studies are exploring the usefulness of curcumin—a natural compound found in turmeric as a possible natural control of prostate cancer cells.
But while these medical breakthroughs are incredibly encouraging, we can’t forget the importance of ensuring these treatments reach every African man, regardless of his income or where he lives. After all, healthcare is a right, not a privilege.
How Can You Prevent Prostate Cancer?
Unfortunately, there is no guaranteed way to prevent prostate cancer, but the risks of this unspoken burden borne by African men can be lowered if they adopt these healthy lifestyles:
- Choose a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables.
- Choose healthy foods over supplements.
- Exercise most days of the week.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Talk to your doctor about the increased risk of prostate cancer.
A Message Of Hope
My Uncle’s journey with prostate cancer has been a wake-up call for our family; it has shown us the importance of early detection, the power of community support, and the urgent need for a better healthcare system in Africa.
In the same vein, it has also given us hope. Hope that, with the right tools and resources, we can defeat this disease.
Hope that no family will have to go through the pain and uncertainty that we have had to go through. And hope that, one day, prostate cancer will no longer be a death sentence for African men.
We stand with men like my Uncle and many others across Africa fighting prostate cancer.
Let us break the silence, raise our voices, and work together to build a future where every African man has a chance to live a healthy, happy, and dignified life.
