Men’s health issues are often under-discussed, whispered about in private or ignored altogether, yet prostate cancer sits quietly at the center of that silence. Across Kenya, many men dismiss the early warning signs as mere symptoms of ageing, choosing endurance over examination.
Behind this culture of quiet resilience lies a disease that continues to claim fathers, husbands and brothers, often not because it cannot be treated, but because it is not talked about.
According to studies, for every 100 males, 13 will develop prostate cancer at some point in their lifetime. These issues are a big concern for the health status of men, especially the elderly of about 50 years, who are primarily at higher risk of getting this disease. Prostate cancer is one of the most serious and common diseases.
This is a slow-growing malignancy that develops in the prostate gland, a part of the male reproductive system that is responsible for the secretion of fluid that mixes with semen, keeping sperm healthy for conception and pregnancy. The prostate gland is located below the bladder and in front of the rectum in males. This type of cancer usually begins as adenocarcinoma, a type that develops with cells in the gland, and undergoes DNA changes.
Prostate cancer is accompanied by growth in different stages of development, with the initial stage being localized (stages 1 and 2), which is confined to the prostate gland. Locally advanced ( stage 3), this is characterized by the spread of cancer outside the prostate to nearby tissues. The last stage is the Advanced, or metastatic ( stage 4), where it spreads to distant parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, bones, or lungs.
Prostate cancer continues to be a threat, and while so, experts aren’t sure what causes cells in your prostate to become cancer cells. As with cancer in general, prostate cancer forms when cells divide faster than usual, while normal cells eventually die, cancer cells don’t, they multiply and grow into a lump called tumor. As these cells continue to multiply, parts of the tumor can break off and spread to other parts of your body (Metastasize).
Other studies show that among the risks are smoking, sexually transmitted diseases and prostatitis. Diagnosis and tests can be done by doctors through screening, physical examination, scans and biopsy to diagnose prostate cancer. Treatment depends on factors such as overall condition, whether the cancer has spread and how fast it’s spreading. Depending on your treatment, you may work with various health care providers, including urologists, radiation oncologist and medical oncologists.
The good news is that most prostate cancers diagnosed in early stages can be cured with treatment.
