Revista de investigación clínica

The Prevalence of Prostate Cancer among Urology Neoplasms at Ndola Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Ali Mwanza

Background: Cancer of the Prostate is one of the leading cause of cancer death in men and its incidence rates are expected to continue escalating. Globally it is the second most common cancer affecting older men and it presents with a need to urinate frequently, weak and dribbling of urine, painful urination, and blood is seen in urine or semen. Aim: was to determine the pattern and distribution of Urology neoplasms, particularly cancer of the prostate gland seen at Ndola Teaching Hospital. Methodology: In this study a retrospective cross section study design was used, data was collected and sampled by complete enumeration of all urology patient’s files that visited Ndola Teaching Hospital from June 2018 to August 2020. Out of a total of 404 urology patients files enrolled, 212 were diagnosed urological neoplasms. Data entry involved tabulations and use of SPSS software for analysis. All information collected was confidentially handled in accordance with the ethics. Ethical approval was obtained from Tropical Disease Research Centre (TDRC) and permission to conduct the study at the health institution was granted by both the Provincial Health Office and Hospital administration. Results: The prevalence of prostate cancer among urological neoplasms seeing at NTH was found to be 44.3%. It is densely distributed and more common between the ages of 70 to 79 years old. Other urological neoplasm such as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Penile Cancer, Bladder Cancer, Kidney Cancer and Testicular cancer recorded the prevalence of 42.9%, 6.1%, 6.1%, 0%, 0.5% respectively. No single case was recorded above the age 90 this could be due to patients dying before reaching the age of 90. Conclusion and recommendations: At this prevalence of 44.3%, there is need to implement screening strategies, sensitize and encourage people to always visit hospital care for regular checkups, more especially when the male gender starts to advance in age and experiencing symptoms of the impending prostate cancer. Although there is no strong evidence yet on how to fully prevent prostate cancer, it is very possible to lower the risks of developing it by stopping to take alcohol, to cease smoking, limit high fat foods, increasing the intake of vegetables and fruits and performing more exercise.