Thu, 22 Jun 2017 10:48:48 +0000
By SIMON MUNTEMBA
CONSIDER increasing the number of government cancer screening centres in Zambia as a way of curbing the escalating high levels of prostate cancer, the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Zambia (PCFZ) has appealed to the government.
PCFZ Founder Chanda Chimba III called on the ministry of health to consider increasing the number of Government prostate cancer screening centres in the country.
Mr Chimba said government should also double its efforts in raising awareness in rural areas so that people know, and look out for the symptoms of Prostate Cancer.
He said most men above the age of 50 were living with prostate cancer in silence and dying silently. In an interview, Mr Chanda disclosed that currently the Zambia had only three government screaming Centre at The University Teaching Hospital, Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital and Cancer Diseases Hospital which was not enough to carter for the ever increasing population.
Mr Chimba further appealed to the government to consider provide Prostate Cancer screening for free to the men who want to be screened.
“I am calling on the ministry of health to consider increasing the number of Government prostate cancer screening centres in the country.
“Currently the country has only three government screaming Centre at The University Teaching Hospital, Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital and Cancer Diseases Hospital.
“And at the moment, K80 is charged for testing, but Prostate Cancer screening should be provided for free to the men who want to screened,” Mr Chimba said.
Mr Chanda revealed that doctors had to castrate him as part of treatment for his advanced prostate cancer he was diagnosed with in 2014.
He, however, urged all Zambian men especially those 50 years and above to go for prostate cancer screening as at yesterday and do it regularly if they were found negative.
He said those that were 45 should also make sure they go for screening every year adding that early detection as a result of regular prostate cancer screening would work to their advantage and make treatment decisions easy for the medical staff
“I am actually inclined to believe that it is mainly because of this aspect of castration that a lot of men with symptoms of prostate cancer tend to shun going a step further, to get screened.
“Men and everyone else should know that castration is not performed on all prostate cancer patients except for those with it in an advanced stage like the case was with me,” he said.
He said the main reason for castration, which is performed surgically or medically, is to starve the prostate gland of testosterone -the male hormone – which is the main nourishment of the cancer cells.
“From what I have observed a lot of men start prostate cancer treatment when the disease is in its advanced stage.
Mr Chimba said the major challenge in fighting prostate cancer is the silence that most patients and families live with.
He added, “Some patients may just have surgery especially for early diagnosis and those at intermediate stage while some may end up with radiation but they can still maintain their function. Castration is only for advanced cancer which has spread to other parts of the body like the case was with me but I thank God and the medical staff at the Cancer Diseases Hospital for the treatment, I am now feeling much better.”
