Prostate Cancer

Definition: Cancer of the male reproductive system that affects the prostate (an exocrine gland, under the bladder and in front of the rectum). Prostate apart from producing fluid that forms part of semen, is involved in urine control (continence).

PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen)

It is produced by the epithelial cells in the prostate gland. PSA helps keep the semen in liquid state. If a man’s PSA levels are high, it might be an indicator of either a prostate cancer or some kind of prostate condition.

Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

When symptoms do exist, they are usually one or more of the following:

·         The patient urinates more often

·         He may find it hard to start urinating

·         There may be blood in urine

·         Urination might be painful

·         Achieving or maintaining an erection may be difficult (less common)

Advanced Prostate Cancer

·         Bone pain, often in the spine

·         Leg weakness (if spinal cord has been compressed)

·         Urinary incontinence

·         Fecal incontinence

What are the causes of prostate Cancer?

Related but not limited to:-

·         Age, genetics, Diet, Obesity, STDs

Possible complications

·         Metastasis

·         Incontinence

·         Erectile dysfunction

Substance abuse among students in Public Universities in Kenya

Objective: To investigate the association between HIV/STI and substance abuse among students in Public Universities in Kenya.

 Males 69% and females 31%.

 Only 30.5% had ever used tobacco while 17.1% were current users. Males accounted for 75% of current users compared to 25% amongst females.

 Of the current users, 84% believed that tobacco was not harmful to health. Two important sources of introduction to tobacco use were friends that accounted for 81% and relatives 18%.

Use of tobacco amongst significant others were: friends 24%, fathers 11.0%, relatives 6.2% and mothers 0.2%. The most common sources of supply were nearby shop outlets 51.1% and friends 14.4%.

Gender multivariate analysis of associations with daily smoking (adjusted for age, University, leisure activities and gender, respectively), parental monitoring exhibited a consistently protective, dose response effect.

Attending a place of worship and going to the movies were protective for females as was watching sports, whereas playing team sport was protective for males and attending a movie was a risk factor for females.  

Median age at initiation of smoking was 17 years which did not vary according to Universities.

Research by:      Magu D, Mutugi MW, Ndahi LW, Wanzala P