Chinenye Okoye
22 December 2008
Lagos — Diagnosed and cured of prostate cancer, Dr. Thomas John, the former group managing director of NNPC at 70 is championing a campaign to create awareness and lead a search for early dictation and cure of the disease that is currently killing men.
According to Impact Study, a United Kingdom based health research organisation, prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed male cancer worldwide after lung cancer. With over 650,000 cases diagnosed each year, the body said it accounts for a tenth of all new male cancers.
Presently, not much is known about the causes of prostrate in Nigeria and elsewhere, but certain factors are known to increase a man's chance of developing the disease, which are called risk factors: age, ethnicity and a family history of cancer, particularly of the prostate, breast and ovary, have been established as major prostate cancer risk factors.
Other environmental factors, such as diet, hormones and sexually transmitted diseases have been linked to a risk of prostate cancer but at present, research into the role these factors play in prostate cancer development is incomplete. Prostate cancer incidence varies between different ethnic groups, with the highest incidence found amongst Black Africans and African-Americans.
This explains why Dr. Thomas Asuquo John, a cured victim has decided to search for relief for prostate cancer. This desire to bring prostate cancer awareness to the fore was implemented when in December 2004, and with the help of the Catholic Archdiocese of Calabar initiated a PSA based prostate cancer screening test in Calabar.
The program found acceptance in the State Government and soon after, a one-day sensitisation seminar took place as part of the 13th world day for the sick in February 2005. The seminar was well attended and the message of the eminent guest speaker, Urologist Prof. Nkposong of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, was favourably received. Since then several other sensitisation health talks have been held by various organisations in Cross River and other states like Anambra, Imo, Akwa Ibom and Enugu. This has led to increased prostate cancer screening and since the commencement of the program, in 2005, about 8,000 screening tests have been done on men over 40 years of age.
In Cross River State alone, about 5,000 men were screened by 2007. Ninety tested positive and eight had a prostatectomy performed. All other positive cases, in conformity with standard clinical practices, were further evaluated by an urologist. From this very modest beginning in Calabar, the awareness is growing and many institutions including private ones are showing interest in prostate cancer screening as well as the kits introduced to the local area.
The results obtained so far show that there is a need to widen coverage of the screening exercise and treatment. Hence, the justifications for Thomas John Prostate Foundation (TJPF) with the ultimate vision of seeing fewer men die from prostate cancer, a dreaded but curable disease.
Prostate cancer is quite common especially in men over 65 years of age, but any man from the age of 45 has an increased risk of developing prostate cancer. The prostate is a male sex gland, part of a man's reproductive system. It is about the size of a kola nut, and is located below the bladder and in front of the rectum. In fact, more than 70 per cent of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over the age of 65. In the majority of men, prostate cancer grows very slowly and many will live with it until they eventually die of some other cause.
Two tests are commonly used to detect prostate cancer in the absence of any symptoms. One is the digital rectal exam, in which a doctor feels the prostate through the rectum to find hard or lumpy areas. The other is a blood test used to detect a substance made by the prostate called Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). Neither of the screening tests for prostate cancer is perfect.
Most men with mildly elevated PSA level do not have prostate cancer, and many men with prostate cancer have normal levels of PSA. Also, the digital rectal exam can miss many prostate cancers. Only a biopsy can definitely confirm the presence of prostate cancer.
The TJPF will over time, extend the scope, reach of prostate cancer awareness and screening for prostate cancer nationally, and internationally, will establish a website where information about the activities of the foundation should be accessed. The site will have links to patient resources, which will include screening centre information, healthy lifestyle options and general information on prostate cancer. It will also have a secure link for on-line donations to support the work of the Foundation.
It is instructive to note that, the journey so far has been financed entirely by John and family. However, in order for the foundation to realise its objectives, it will need further funding and it is now ready to accept funds from individuals, development partners, corporate and private organisations.
As John turned 70 years last week, the ambience at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) where TJPF was launched, was full of prayers and support for Dr. Thomas John's initiative in addressing this male only disease.
A distinguished technocrat, John had a flourishing career at Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) where he rose to become the Group Managing Director. Prior to this, he was Sector Coordinator Petrochemicals Division and saw to the successful commissioning of Petrochemicals Phase 1, located in Warri and Kaduna. He later headed the Eleme Petrochemicals Company Limited.
According to Dr. Taiwo Idemudia, a retired managing director of Nigeria Gas Company, a subsidiary of NNPC, who read a tribute to Dr John during the launch of TJPF: "the history of NNPC would be incomplete without your groundbreaking contributions and a prominent mention of your contributions, achievements and, in some cases, pioneering roles"
This same spirit is being brought to bear in the launching of a Health Promotion Project. This is therefore the time for government, and the private sector to rally round this initiative of a Knight of Saint John (KSJ), who is giving back to the society what he has benefited from.
In doing this he is deploying his honour and integrity to mobilising strategic, technical and financial support from friends and corporate bodies to create the needed awareness for prostate cancer, its preventive and curative management programme.
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