UGMC intensifies prostate cancer awareness campaign, urges men to seek early screening

The University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) has launched a prostate cancer awareness and treatment campaign to encourage men to prioritise regular health checks and seek early medical attention.

Consultant Urologist and Head of the Department of Surgery at the University of Ghana Medical School, Dr Matthew Yamoah Kyei, said tackling prostate cancer required a collective effort involving men, their partners, families, communities and healthcare providers.

He noted that prostate cancer remained a significant health concern in Ghana, with an estimated one in five men in Ghana and the surrounding region expected to develop the disease during their lifetime.

Dr Kyei said September was being used to intensify public education and encourage men to undergo appropriate prostate assessments, explaining that early detection could help prevent complications and the need for prolonged treatment.

Prostate health

Dr Kyei explained that prostate cancer affects the prostate gland and may be associated with urinary difficulties, blood in the urine and sexual or erection-related problems.

He urged men not to wait for symptoms to become severe before consulting health professionals, emphasising the importance of routine medical examinations and timely assessment.

According to him, men who attend annual medical check-ups should use the opportunity to include prostate health assessments alongside tests for conditions such as hypertension and diabetes.

Families urged to support men

Dr Kyei stressed that the responsibility for reducing the impact of prostate cancer should not rest solely on men, urging women, families and communities to help encourage early medical consultations.

He said wives and partners could play an important role by reminding men to attend medical appointments and reassuring them that prioritising their health was essential.

To illustrate the influence of family members, he recounted an encounter with a man who, upon arriving at his consulting room, first asked him to telephone his wife to confirm that he was at the hospital before discussing his health concern.

He said the incident highlighted how family relationships could influence men's decisions to seek medical care.

Hospitals urged to improve access

The urologist also called on healthcare facilities to address barriers that make hospital visits inconvenient for men, including inadequate privacy, limited consultation rooms and lengthy waiting periods.

He observed that patients could arrive at hospitals early in the morning and remain there until the afternoon for consultations that lasted only a few minutes.

Dr Kyei said the average time a patient spent with the urology team was about seven minutes, despite some patients having to devote almost an entire day to the visit.

He therefore advocated appointment systems that would enable patients to receive care at scheduled times and return promptly to their work and family responsibilities.

Strengthening community healthcare

Dr Kyei further called for stronger community-level healthcare services to reduce the need for patients to travel long distances to major hospitals for routine follow-up care.

He suggested that Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds could be strengthened, where appropriate, to provide services such as prescription refills for patients whose conditions had already been diagnosed.

He said improving access to basic follow-up services could make it easier for patients to remain connected to healthcare without repeatedly travelling to larger facilities.

Early treatment can prevent complications

Dr Kyei warned that delaying medical attention could turn conditions that might have been managed within a short period into complicated cases requiring longer hospital stays.

He acknowledged that some men feared losing income or being separated from their families during hospital admissions but cautioned that postponing treatment could ultimately cost them more time.

“Men should come early so that you can be able to spend a few hours to deal with the issues and then they are free to go back to their work and their responsibility,” he said.

PSA testing available at various laboratories

As part of the awareness campaign, Dr Kyei said health professionals across the country were encouraging men to seek information and undergo appropriate prostate assessments.

He explained that the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test was available at various laboratories and could help health professionals determine whether further investigations were necessary.

According to him, the test generally cost between GH¢20 and GH¢150, depending on the facility, while examinations at participating facilities under the campaign were free.

Men cite fear and embarrassment

A male participant, Isaac Amoah, said fear, embarrassment, financial constraints and the time required to access hospital services could prevent some men from seeking medical attention.

“I think many men are afraid of what the doctor might tell them,” he said.

He added that privacy was particularly important when discussing urinary and sexual health concerns with medical professionals.

Isaac said the possibility of detecting health problems early would encourage him to make prostate assessments part of his routine medical care.

Women encouraged to lead conversations

A female participant, Eva Nkrumah, said women could help improve men's health-seeking behaviour by encouraging their partners to take medical concerns seriously.

“Sometimes a man may ignore a health problem, but his wife or partner may notice the changes and encourage him to see a doctor,” she said.

She advised women to approach such conversations calmly and sensitively rather than making men feel pressured or embarrassed.

Eva said cultural attitudes, embarrassment and limited information often made discussions about prostate health difficult among couples.

The campaign seeks to raise awareness of prostate cancer, promote early detection and encourage men, families and healthcare providers to work together to improve access to screening and treatment.