By Mavis Paintsil ,Korlebu
A leading urologist has warned that late reporting is responsible for most prostate cancer deaths in Ghana, and is calling for men to prioritize early screening.
Professor James Edward Mensah, Head of Surgery at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and President of the Ghana Association of Urological Surgeons, says many men only seek medical care when the cancer has already spread beyond the prostate.
Speaking to the Ghanaianannouncer, Prof. Mensah disclosed that data from 2013 to 2022 shows over 80% of men who died from prostate cancer presented with advanced disease.
The report showed 234 men died from the disease within the period, with a five-year survival rate of just 21.2% for those whose cancer had metastasized.
“About 43.6% presented with haemoglobin below 10 at diagnosis. These patients had the worst outcome, with 73% dying in less than two years,” the study stated.
Prof. Mensah said warning signs such as difficulty urinating, blood in urine, and persistent back pain from spread to the spine are often ignored, while some patients spend months at herbal clinics being treated for benign enlargement before referral.
He stressed that early detection and appropriate treatment save lives, noting that all treatment options for localized prostate cancer – including radical prostatectomy, brachytherapy and radiotherapy – are now available in Ghana.
He urged men aged 40 and above, especially black men and those with a family history, to do annual PSA tests and seek prompt medical advice.
“There are distinct types of prostate cancer. Early reporting and diagnosis lower mortality,” he emphasized.
