Globally, more than 1.5 million cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed in 2024, according to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
In Ghana, prostate cancer was the second most commonly occurring cancer in men, but it ranked the fourth most commonly occurring cancer worldwide in 2024.
In observance of the awareness month, the Urology and Nephrology Centre at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital on September 3, 2026, launched a month-long campaign about prostate cancer.
Speaking at the Director of the Urology and Nephrology Centre, at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Prof. James Edward Mensah said, “Many men still report to health facilities when the disease has advanced and treatment options have become limited. Yet prostate cancer detected at an early stage can often be treated successfully.”
He also highlighted misinformation as one of the hindrances to seeking treatment proper healthcare. “We must address the fear, stigma, misinformation and financial barriers that discourage men from seeking care,” he said.
What is prostate cancer?
According to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), prostate cancer is a disease in which cells in the prostate grow out of control.
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“If prostate cancer is diagnosed, other tests are done to find out if cancer cells have spread within the prostate or to other parts of the body. This process is called staging. Whether the cancer is only in the prostate (a part of the male reproductive system), or has spread outside the prostate, determines your stage of prostate cancer. The stage of prostate cancer tells doctors what kind of treatment you need.”
Risk factors for prostate cancer
All men are at risk of prostate cancer, and the most common risk factor is age. The older a man is, the greater the chance of getting prostate cancer. Below are some major risk factors.
- Age: The risk of prostate cancer increases after the age of 50, but it is rare before 45.
- Race or ethnicity: Men of African descent have a higher risk of prostate cancer than other races.
- Family history/Genetics: For some men, genetic factors may put them at higher risk of prostate cancer. Inherited features, including changes to the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, may increase the risk. Mutations in these genes also increase the chance of breast cancer. Men born with Lynch syndrome also have a higher risk of prostate and other cancers.
Diet, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, exposure to chemicals, inflammation of the prostate and sexually transmitted infections can lead to the development of the disease.
Symptoms of Prostate Cancer
Medical experts say symptoms of prostate cancer differ in different people; however, there are common symptoms that should prompt a person to get tested. These include;
- Difficulty starting urination.
- Weak or interrupted flow of urine.
- Urinating often, especially at night.
- Trouble emptying the bladder.
- Pain or burning during urination.
- Blood in the urine or semen.
- Pain in the back, hips, or pelvis that doesn’t go away.
- Painful ejaculation.
Why is screening important?
Screening for prostate cancer or cancer in general helps to identify the disease at an early stage, even before it begins to show symptoms.
For prostate cancer, two tests are commonly used to screen for the disease: prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and Digital rectal examination (DRE).
Researched by Gifty Tracy Aminu
