Health Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu says the poor attitude of men to cancer screening is worrisome.
Chukwu made tis known on Thursday in Abuja while declaring open the 17th annual conference of the Nigeria Association of Urological Surgeons.
Speaking on the theme, “Urolithiasis and Prostate Cancer’’ the minister said it was disheartening that the men would not spare some time to go for prostate cancer test.
“ Screening for prostate cancer should be done regularly by men. I urge all men to consider prostate cancer screening a necessary part of their annual health care, he said.
The minister who was represented by Dr Folake Demola-Majekodunmi, Director, Special Duties in the ministry, said an estimated 10,000 men were diagnosed annually for the disease.
“ Nigeria records an estimated 100,000 new cancer cases diagnosed annually of which breast and cervical cancer are common in women and prostrate and colon cancers are common in men.
“An estimated 10,000 men are diagnosed annually, many of who are diagnosed late in the hospitals, accounting for the high mortality.
“Simple regular Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) testing, which is cheap, can be the one quick solution and is available in every General Hospital,’’ he added.
The minister said prostate cancer was an appealing target for vaccines because it grows slowly, adding that the world was hopeful that ‘Provenge’, a prostate cancer vaccine, would be “the wonder prostate cancer vaccine”.
Earlier, Prof. Alexandra Nwofor, the president of the association, had said prostate cancer was the commonest death in men, noting that the incidence was on the increase.
He called for increased awareness on the disease and screening for early detection.
“At least basic screening using Digital Rectal Examination (DRE) is necessary, and we think that we can also partner with government in this regard,’’he said.