Prof. Kingsley Ekwueme, a Robotic Urological Surgeon, has clarified that no amount of sexual activity or dietary supplements could prevent the development of prostate cancer.
Ekwueme, CEO/Medical Director of The Prostate Clinic (TPC), debunked the myth during the first anniversary celebration of TPC in Lagos on Sunday.
He emphasised that the disease was a “silent killer”, with a lot of misinformation among which was the belief that regular sex or specific herbal mixtures prevented the disease.
“No amount of sex, unfortunately, can stop you from prostate cancer. Yes, even male gigolos will develop prostate cancer.
“So, it doesn’t help. I think that Nigerians need to know this because of the misinformation that is on social media.
“There is no known cause of prostate cancer. What we have are established risk factors: age, being black and family history.
“Every other claim is speculation.’’
Ekwueme outlined three established risk factors for prostate cancer, with age being the primary one.
According to him, prostate cancer is not seen in adolescents or young adults, noting the risk rises significantly with age.
He disclosed that by age 30, prostate enlargement already begins, confirmed by autopsy studies — examination of 30-year-old males shows the enlargement process has started.
For the second risk factor, he cited ethnicity, adding that being Black is a known risk factor for prostate cancer.
Additionally, Ekwueme said Black men who develop the disease are more likely to present with an aggressive form.
“So, you are more likely to die of prostate cancer as a black man compared to other ethnicities.”
According to Ekwueme, family history is the third established risk factor for prostate cancer.
“If you have a first-degree relative with prostate cancer, your father, your brother, or uncle, these are first-line, you are significantly at increased risk of developing prostate cancer.
“If you have prostate cancer in your family, you are more likely to develop prostate cancer seven years before the normal population.”
Explaining, he said: “The peak age for prostate cancer is between 60 and 65.
“If you have a family history, you are going to develop prostate cancer early in your 50s. Seven years before the normal population will develop it.
“Therefore, if you have a family history of prostate cancer, you must begin to do your blood test, PSA, from the age of 45, so that you can catch it early.”
He also asserted that no diet would prevent someone from coming down with prostate cancer.
“Nothing that you will eat can prevent you from prostate cancer.
“I’ve had people come to the prostate clinic to see me, and they’ve been taking sour salt, drinking pots and pots of tomatoes.
“So, there is no dietary relationship that is confirmed. Millions of pounds have been spent on research to find preventive diets. All failed. So, don’t waste your time.’’
Nevertheless, Ekwueme said that diet was very good for the body and one’s health.
“Diet is good for your body, for your normal cardiovascular health.
“You can diet for that, but don’t say you’re doing it because you’re preventing prostate cancer.
“That is false information.’’
Ekwueme said there was a crisis of late detection of the disease in Nigeria, and developed nations, which remained a primary concern for health officials.
According to him, while only 12.5 per cent of men in the UK present with incurable prostate cancer, the figure is reversed in Nigeria, where over 80 per cent of patients arrive when treatment options are severely limited.
He noted that The Prostate Clinic, which had treated 100 patients in its first year, aimed to bridge the gap in world-class urological care locally.
He noted that fear, silence and misinformation were driving over 80 per cent of Nigerian men to present with late-stage prostate cancer, often when treatment options were already limited
“Men often waste critical time on unproven “mixtures” only to present to hospitals when the cancer is already incurable,’’
Ekwueme advised men in Nigeria not to wait for symptoms before going for testing.
He reminded men that while they may fear losing their erections, they should be far more afraid of losing their lives to a disease that is treatable if caught in time.
