PROSTATE CANCER TREATMENT IN NIGERIA

There are various treatment options available for patients with prostate cancer in Nigeria.

When a diagnosis of prostate cancer is made usually following a prostate needle biopsy , one of the first things that is usually done is to do some investigations to determine the stage of the cancer.

One of the most important investigation at this point is usually Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) of the pelvis. Other investigations that can help in staging of the prostate cancer include a Bone scan or a PSMA PET Scan.

Knowing the stage of the disease is very important because the treatment options varies from one stage to another. While the aim of treatment in stage 1 and 2 prostate cancer is to cure the patient of the prostate cancer, the aim of treatment in stage 3 and 4 prostate cancer will be to reduce or prevent a further spread of the cancer especially in late stage 3 or 4 patients.

We will now outline the treatment options that patients with different stages of prostate cancer qualify for.

1. Stage 1: The treatment options available for patients with stage 1 disease include
2. Radical prostatectomy ( either open or laparoscopic ie keyhole surgery)
3. Radical Radiotherapy ( either external beam therapy or brachytherapy)

• Cryotherapy

2. Stage 2: The treatment options available for patients with stage 2 disease include
3. Radical prostatectomy ( either open or laparoscopic ie keyhole surgery)
4. Radical Radiotherapy ( either external beam therapy or brachytherapy)
5. Cryotherapy
6. Stage 3: The treatment options available for patients with stage 3 disease include
7. Radical prostatectomy with hormonal therapy
8. Radical Radiotherapy with hormonal therapy

• Radical prostatectomy with radiotherapy to the prostatic bed.

1. Hormonal therapy alone (Surgical or Medical Castration with the use of antiandrogens)
2. Stage 4: The treatment options available include
3. Hormonal therapy(Surgical or Medical Castration with the use of antiandrogens)
4. Second line Hormonal therapy ( Where above therapy has failed)

• Chemotherapy ( Where second line therapy has failed)

Adjunts to these therapies for stage 4 include Bisphosphonates, hematinics, analgesics,, focal radiotherapy as indicated.

Most of these treatment options including laparoscopic radical prostatectomy which is curative in early prostate cancer is available @ Eleos Specialist Hospital, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.