Survivors Urge Early Prostate Screening

It was a Saturday filled with emotional testimonies as survivors of prostate cancer gathered to mark the first anniversary of The Prostate Clinic (TPC).

The celebration, which highlighted the successful completion of 100 robotic surgeries, quickly turned into a urgent national health warning.

Survivors, including retired Major General Enenche John Enenche, shared their journeys from fear and diagnosis to recovery, aiming to break the silence that experts say leads to 80 percent of Nigerian men seeking help only when the disease is already incurable.

Major General Enenche, a former spokesperson for the Nigerian Armed Forces, recalled a “divine intervention” that prompted him to check his health despite only noticing subtle bodily changes.

With a PSA level of 14.2, he initially feared the worst and was prepared to undergo drastic, life-altering surgery just to survive. However, the founder of TPC, Professor Kingsley Ekwueme, guided him toward a precise four-hour robotic procedure. Enenche described the experience as seamless, walking out of the hospital fully recovered and urging men over 40 not to wait for symptoms before getting tested.

His story was echoed by others, such as Mr. Innocent Ihebuzor, who found relief from agonizing nights of interrupted sleep, and Mr. Emmanuel Okolie, who traveled all the way from Canada to Lagos for treatment.

These testimonies highlighted a significant shift in the medical landscape: Nigeria is becoming a hub for world-class robotic surgery, attracting patients from across the globe. TPC Chairman Mr. Francis Ogboro noted that the clinic’s 100th patient was actually himself, emphasizing that the facility was established to deliver global standards right here in Nigeria.

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Professor Ekwueme, a renowned expert in the field, warned that misinformation is a major hurdle in the fight against the disease. He dismissed common myths that certain diets or lifestyles prevent cancer, stressing instead that age, race, and family history are the true risk factors.

“Men are afraid of losing their erections, but they should be more afraid of losing their lives,” he remarked, adding that modern robotic techniques now allow for the preservation of both life and dignity. As the clinic enters its second year, Ekwueme remains committed to reversing Nigeria’s tragic mortality statistics, one early diagnosis at a time.