Why UBA is riding for Prostate Cancer

Several UBA staff will dump their cars tomorrow Saturday, March 22, 2014 and pick up their bicycles. They will be riding for approximately 20 kilometers starting from UBA Head Office and going through selected routes on Victoria Island before ending up at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, where free Prostate screening will be carried out any member or staff willing to take the test.

It is important to know that the earlier a Prostate Cancer disease is detected, the better the chances of it being completely cured.

This is why UBA Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of UBA is organizing this Bicycle ride to  raise awareness on Prostate Cancer, a disease that kills an unknown number of Nigerian men every year. Medical research shows that Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Nigerian men.

Information obtained from the website of the American based Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that “men with prostate cancer—especially those with tumors that have not spread beyond the prostate—die of other causes without ever having any symptoms from the cancer.”

“Except for skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. It is the second most common cause of death from cancer among white, African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Hispanic men, and the fourth most common cause of death from cancer among Asian/Pacific Islander men.”

Risk factors for Prostate cancer

•Age: The older a man is, the greater his risk for getting prostate cancer.

•Family history: Certain genes (the functional and physical units of heredity passed from parent to offspring) that you inherited from your parents may affect your prostate cancer risk. Currently, no single gene is sure to raise or lower your risk of getting prostate cancer. However, a man with a father, brother, or son who has had prostate cancer is two to three times more likely to develop the disease himself.

•Race: Prostate cancer is more common in some racial and ethnic groups than in others, but medical experts do not know why.

Some common symptoms of Prostate are;

•Difficulty starting urination.

•Weak or interrupted flow of urine.

•Frequent urination, especially at night.

•Difficulty emptying the bladder completely.

•Pain or burning during urination.

•Blood in the urine or semen.

•Pain in the back, hips, or pelvis that doesn't go away.

•Painful ejaculation.

If you suspect any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor. If you are in Lagos tomorrow, then you can also join UBA at the National Stadium before 10.am to get a free screening.