Mr. Okorie’s prostate cancer experience started in 2009 at the age of 43. His weight loss had been complained about by his wife and she persuaded him to see the doctor. He had barely stepped into the four walls of a hospital in years, so the doctor advised him to undergo some screening upon finding nothing significant that explained his weight loss. He undertook the tests, and two weeks later he went for another blood test as the doctor summoned him. At this point, he feared something might be wrong, but his doctor reassured him that there was really nothing to fret about for the time being.
A fortnight later, he had another appointment with the doctor, who then informed him of the suspicion they had from one of the test, the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test result, he recalled the doctor telling him his PSA level was higher than normal and a biopsy would be needed to rule out or confirm their suspicion of Prostate cancer. This came as a shock to him, he wondered how it came about, for how long he might have been living with it and what the future had left for him.
When the biopsy result eventually was ready, it was discovered that the Prostate cancer was still in its early stages, and his fighting chances were quite hopeful. Prior to these events, Mr. Okorie knew nothing about Prostate cancer, he sought knowledge about the disease eagerly and soon became well versed about his condition. Over the years, he had received treatment and returned to full strength, leading a healthy cancer free life, and has since shared his experience whenever he had the opportunity to do so.
To his surprise long later, he found out his father had similar experience 22 years earlier but concealed the details of his condition, he believes if his father had been open about it, he would have been on the lookout earlier as Prostate cancer can be hereditary. Mr. Okorie now advocates to Nigerians and people of African descent to know their risk, seek medical evaluation and talk about Prostate cancer with other men in their social circle.
Another Prostate cancer survivor, Mr. Onilude was 48 years old when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Prior to his diagnosis, he had no symptoms at all but the loss of his father to the disease encouraged him to seek a medical appointment to have himself screened as he had learned in the course of his father’s ailment that the risk of developing the disease was higher among blood relatives. Confirmation of his diagnosis has helped him commence treatment early as opposed to his father’s late presentation. He has been living a vibrant healthy lifestyle ever since and he believes in sharing his experience to save lives.
He advises that prostate cancer is not something to hide, and advises fellow African men to open up to friends and family as this helps help seeking behavior and curbs the number of lives lost to Prostate cancer.
Prostate Cancer is not a death sentence. The importance of creating awareness cannot be overemphasized as it remains an everyday issue in our society. It is a collective effort we all must embrace to save the lives of our brothers, fathers, uncles and grandfathers.