Rumbidzayi Zinyuke
Health Buzz
As October’s breast cancer awareness campaign gives way to November, attention shifts from women’s health to the often-neglected health challenges affecting men, particularly prostate cancer.
The transition from pink ribbons to the moustaches associated with November should serve as a reminder that cancer awareness is not a one-month affair.
Men, just like women, must take responsibility for their health through regular medical check-ups, early detection and timely treatment.
Prostate cancer is one of the biggest threats to men’s health, yet many continue to underestimate the disease, often seeking medical attention only when symptoms become difficult to ignore.
Its ability to develop silently, particularly in its early stages, makes it a dangerous condition requiring greater public awareness.
In Zimbabwe, where prostate cancer is the leading cancer among men, the need for awareness is particularly urgent.
Globally, the burden of prostate cancer is concerning. Estimates show that more than 1,5 million men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2024, making it the second most common cancer among men and the fourth most common cancer overall. Nearly 420 000 deaths were attributed to the disease during the same year.
Data from the Zimbabwe National Cancer Registry’s 2019 annual report illustrates the burden locally.
Prostate cancer accounted for 28,4 percent of all cancers recorded among black Zimbabwean men, making it the leading cancer in this population. Of the 2 951 new cancer cases recorded among men of all races in 2019, prostate cancer accounted for 11 percent. The disease was also responsible for 11 percent of all cancer deaths recorded that year.
These figures highlight the significant contribution of prostate cancer to the country’s cancer burden and the need to strengthen early detection and treatment.
The prostate is a small gland, roughly the size of a walnut, located below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It forms part of the male reproductive system and produces fluid that nourishes and transports sperm.
Prostate cancer develops when cells in the gland begin growing uncontrollably. While some forms grow slowly and may remain confined to the prostate for years, others are aggressive and can spread to surrounding tissues and distant organs, particularly the bones and lymph nodes.
One of the biggest challenges in managing the disease is that early-stage prostate cancer often presents without noticeable symptoms. A man can, therefore, have cancer without experiencing pain or urinary difficulties.
When symptoms develop, they may include difficulty starting urination, a weak or interrupted urine stream, frequent urination, particularly at night, and a feeling that the bladder has not emptied completely. Other warning signs include pain or burning during urination, blood in the urine or semen, and difficulty maintaining an erection.
In advanced cases, men may experience persistent pain in the lower back, hips or pelvis, unexplained weight loss and general weakness, particularly when cancer has spread beyond the prostate.
However, these symptoms do not automatically indicate cancer.
An enlarged prostate, medically known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, and prostatitis, which is inflammation of the prostate gland, can produce similar symptoms.
The important message is that persistent changes in urinary habits or unexplained pain should not be dismissed as normal consequences of ageing. Medical assessment is necessary to establish the underlying cause.
Who is at risk?
Although all men can develop prostate cancer, certain factors increase the likelihood of developing the disease. Age is the strongest established risk factor, with the likelihood increasing significantly after 50. Most diagnoses occur among older men, although younger men can also develop the disease.
Race and ancestry are also important. Research consistently shows that men of African ancestry face a higher risk of developing prostate cancer and are more likely to experience aggressive disease and die from it than men from some other population groups.
This makes prostate cancer particularly relevant to African countries, including Zimbabwe, where awareness and early detection interventions need to reach men before the disease advances.
Family history is another significant risk factor. Men whose fathers, brothers or sons have been diagnosed with prostate cancer face a higher likelihood of developing it themselves. The risk increases where several close relatives have been affected or were diagnosed at relatively young ages.
Smoking and excess body weight have been associated with an increased risk of aggressive or fatal prostate cancer, although researchers continue to investigate the relationship between lifestyle and the disease.
Understanding these risk factors helps men recognise when they should seek medical advice rather than waiting for symptoms to appear.
Early detection can save lives
One of the most effective ways of identifying prostate cancer before it becomes advanced is through appropriate screening and early diagnostic assessment.
Breaking the silence around men’s health
Beyond medical interventions, addressing prostate cancer also requires confronting social and cultural attitudes that discourage men from seeking healthcare.
In many communities, men are expected to appear strong and resilient, sometimes interpreting health concerns as signs of weakness. Others prioritise work and family responsibilities, postponing medical examinations even when they notice changes in their health.
Such attitudes can allow treatable conditions to progress into more complicated and expensive health problems.
For Zimbabwe, reducing the prostate cancer burden is closely linked to national development priorities, including improving life expectancy, strengthening the health system and advancing universal health coverage.
This requires investment not only in specialised cancer treatment but also in health education, early diagnosis and accessible screening services, particularly in underserved communities.
Ultimately, prostate cancer does not have to be a death sentence. Many cases diagnosed early can be treated successfully, while appropriate management can help men with advanced disease live longer and maintain a better quality of life.
The transition from Breast Cancer Awareness Month to Men’s Health Awareness Month should, therefore, be more than a change in campaign colours. It should reinforce the message that cancer awareness and early detection matter to everyone.
Just as women are encouraged to speak openly about breast health and seek screening, men must embrace the same responsibility when it comes to prostate health.
A health check is not a sign of weakness. It could be the decision that saves life!!
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