A Resident doctor from the Federal Medical Center, Abeokuta, Olutoke Abraham, has decried the belief that minimal sexual activity is a contributor to prostate cancer.
Abraham clarified that African men aged 50 and above are prone to having this cancer, adding that smoking and obesity, among others, have also been linked to the increased likelihood of having prostate cancer.
He spoke during a medical outreach organized by the Rotary Club for traders at the Tarmac Phone Village in Abeokuta.
According to him, research indicates that prostate cancer has become the number one cancer in Nigerian men and constitutes 11% of all male cancers, hence the need for regular checkups to enable early detection.
He said, “There is this general myth that reduced sexual activity or increased sexual activity is a contributor to prostate cancer occurring in an individual.
“That is not true, neither of the two will cause prostate cancer in an individual.
“Rather, age, smoking and obesity have been linked to the increased likelihood of having prostate cancer.
“We have quite a number of men living with this cancer; the risk factor says men above the age of 50 years of African ancestry, and that is what we have here in Nigeria.”
The resident doctor of community medicine encouraged middle-aged men to cultivate the habit of regularly visiting the hospital for checkups, saying that there is reduced patronage of hospitals by men compared to women.
“Studies have shown that women readily have better health-seeking behaviour than men.
“Men, because of so many reasons, forget to take care of themselves at the expense of taking care of other people and trying to make money to care for their family and loved ones.
“Yes, there is a reduced patronage of hospitals by men compared to women, so men should take care of themselves,” he added.
He recommended that middle-aged men should have their blood pressure, blood sugar, and prostate-specific antigen examined to see whether their prostate is still in a minimum or malignant form to determine how much it has grown.
Abraham argued that if detected on time, it can be operated to prevent spread to the bones, spine, and other organs.
Male Prostate Cancer diagram illustration