Africa-Press – Tanzania. A SPECIALIST doctor for Urology from Bugando Medical Center (BMC), Dr Hamis Matalu, has appealed to Tanzanians to report early for prostate cancer treatment, with indications showing the disease was on the increase.
Dr Matalu is among a team of specialist doctors from Bugando Medical Center, who are currently conducting outreach programme in Kagera region, as part of celebrations to mark 50 years anniversary of the Bugando Medical Center (BMC), which was founded in 1971.
He told the ‘Daily News’ in an interview that prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer.
“Many prostate cancers grow slowly and are confined to the prostate gland, where they may not cause serious harm. While some types of prostate cancer glow slowly and may need minimal or even no treatment, other types are aggressive and can spread quickly,” he said.
Elaborating, he said prostate cancer that was detected early, when it is still confined to the prostate gland, has the best chance for successful treatment. However, the risk of prostate cancer increases with age, especially after age 50. Around 60 per cent of prostate cancers are diagnosed in people who are 65 or older. Older adults who are diagnosed with prostate cancer can face unique challenges, he said.
According to Dr Matalu, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also called prostate gland enlargement, is a common condition as men get older.
An enlarged prostate gland can cause uncomfortable urinary symptoms, such as blocking the flow of urine out of the bladder. It can also cause bladder, urinary tract or kidney problems, he said.
He explained that there are several effective treatments for prostate gland enlargement, including medications, minimally invasive therapies and surgery. Prostate cancer is cancer that occurs in the prostate.
The prostate is a small walnutshaped gland in males that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm.
