A 5 Year Review of Prostate Biopsies Taken from Men Attending Abia State University Teaching Hospital Aba, South Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among African-American men. It is the second most common cause of cancer death in the Western world.

Prostate cancer is rarely diagnosed before the age of 50 years, but the incidence and mortality from the disease increases exponentially thereafter. This increased incidence has been attributed mainly to the introduction of screening techniques, especially (the estimation of serum prostate-specific antigen) PSA. There is a great variation in the geographic epidemiology of the disease, and environmental factors appear to be significant contributors to this difference. However, African-American men have higher incidence and mortality than white men. Within the African continent prostate cancer ranks in the top 10 and usually the top 5 for male cancers.

Male relatives of prostate cancer patients have an increased risk of developing the disease. Heredity, however, appears to play a prominent role having a small percentage of prostate cancer cases (mostly early-onset disease) with the majority of patients falling in the category of sporadic cancer. Occupation and lifestyle is significant, especially when there is association between high dietary intake of animal fat.

Heavy metal exposure (cadmium in particular) plays a role. The most consistent factor is hormone concentration and metabolism. Testosterone levels have been shown to be higher in African-American men than white men.