Prostate? What does a prostate do? Where is it located? Prostate cancer is the most common cancer amongst men, yet it affects an organ that a majority have no clue of its location, function or even its existence. The prostate is located just below the bladder in front of the rectum. It is about the size of a walnut and surrounds the urethra (the tube that empties urine from the bladder). It produces fluid that makes up a part of semen.

Starting a conversation about prostate cancer with a group of men in any forum poses a big challenge. It usually ends up in a swift change of topic to the current trending news. Men’s health issues have long been surrounded by societal stigma and silence, which is influenced by existing male dominance factors. Prostate cancer despite being a top killer among men in Kenya remains a conversation that goes on in hushed tones and those living with the disease suffering a silent torture.

Prevention begins with understanding prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is cloaked with myths and misconceptions that deter screening and treatment of affected men. Here are some common myths, misconceptions, and the facts.

“Prostate cancer is an old man’s disease.” The old man’s disease is benign prostate enlargement. However, prostate cancer can affect men of all ages. The latest report on cancer incidence and mortality in Kenya shows that 13% of all new prostate cancer cases were in men under 60 years. The risk factors of prostate cancer include genetic mutations, a family history of prostate cancer, ethnicity, age, lifestyle choices, and environmental factors.

“Prostate cancer screening does not work.” Screening is vital to detect  cancer early, when treatment can be more effective. The commonly used tests are the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test and the digital rectal exam (DRE). Men with prostate cancer usually have elevated PSA levels. However, other conditions such as prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate) can also raise PSA levels. DRE involves inserting a gloved lubricated finger into the rectum to detect any hard areas or lumps in the prostate. While this examination can be uncomfortable for men, it takes approximately one minute. Generally, men over 50 years should undergo screening while those at a higher risk (such as a family history of cancer) should undergo screening at 40 years.

“Prostate cancer presents with urinary symptoms.” Early stages of prostate cancer may not present with any urinary symptoms. Other conditions like the non-cancerous benign prostate hypertrophy and inflammatory conditions present with urinary symptoms, which may not occur in prostate cancer. The screening for the PSA level is vital to assess the presence of prostate cancer even when there are no symptoms present in the early stage.

“Prostate cancer has been linked with denial of conjugal rights and impotency.” This belief has deterred men from taking up screening and those diagnosed suffer silently due to the stigma associated with the negative beliefs. Another misconception is that prostate cancer treatment has been associated with sexual dysfunction, which has deterred the uptake of treatment. Most men will experience a normal sexual life during treatment. However, some treatments may cause side effects in some patients. Patients are advised to discuss available treatment options with their doctors.

“Death is the expected outcome of prostate cancer regardless of medical intervention.” Prostate cancer is surrounded by fatalistic beliefs, which deter men from seeking screening services and treatment. The truth is, when prostate cancer is diagnosed early and treatment is initiated on time, it can save a man’s life, prolong their survival, and improve their quality of life.

We need to debunk these myths and beliefs because doing so will encourage men to seek screening and treatment services for prostate cancer. By shedding light on men’s health, we can break down the barriers to access of care that may save a brother, a father, a colleague!