Health experts have warned that men who urinate often—especially at night—and those with constant lower back pain might be showing early signs of prostate cancer. This type of cancer can be very serious and is often not noticed until it becomes advanced.
Doctors are worried that many men ignore these warning signs. They say not treating these symptoms early could lead to dangerous outcomes.
A health website called Cleveland says prostate cancer starts in the prostate gland, which is part of a man’s reproductive system.
It also says prostate cancer is common and can be dangerous if it spreads to other parts of the body.
According to health officials in Victoria, Australia, the three main prostate problems are inflammation, non-cancerous enlargement, and prostate cancer.
Doctors who spoke to reporters urged Nigerian men to go for regular health checkups, especially after turning 50. They advised men to see a doctor if they notice strange symptoms.
They warned that ignoring early signs—like frequent urination or back pain—could allow the disease to get worse and make treatment much harder or even impossible.
Dr. Akinsola Akinde, an expert in women’s health, said frequent urination and back pain are not only linked to cancer but could also mean the prostate is enlarged, which may or may not be cancerous.
Akinde, who once led a top medical group in Nigeria, warned that some men wrongly blame these symptoms on old age or stress, which delays proper diagnosis and treatment.
He said signs like difficulty holding urine, feeling a strong need to urinate at night, or seeing blood in the urine should be taken seriously, especially by older men.
Akinde added that prostate cancer is common in men, especially black men, and early testing—like PSA tests—can help catch it early and improve the chances of treatment.
“We don’t know the exact cause of prostate cancer,” Akinde said, “but it’s very common in black men. All men are at risk, and once you’re 50 or older, you should go for screening. If we catch it early, we can often treat or even cure it.”
He said many Nigerian men don’t like going to the hospital and only seek help when the cancer is already advanced, which makes it harder to treat.
Akinde also said Nigeria needs better healthcare facilities and more centers that offer cancer treatment like radiotherapy.
He pointed out that prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men after liver cancer. Yet, many parts of Nigeria don’t have the right tools to diagnose or treat it properly.
Dr. Ahuizechukwu Obiesie, a urologist, agreed. He said that constant lower back pain—especially if it spreads—is a major warning sign of prostate cancer and should not be ignored.
He explained that the prostate is a small gland in men that helps produce semen. When it becomes cancerous, it can spread to other areas like the bones, causing back pain.
Dr. Obiesie said catching prostate cancer early is the best way to treat it successfully.
“For prostate cancer, early detection gives you a good chance of curing it,” he said. “That’s why signs like back pain and trouble urinating should never be overlooked.”
He also warned that problems like difficulty passing urine, needing to urinate often, and not being able to hold urine are common signs of prostate disease.
He said many men wrongly think these symptoms are part of getting older and don’t seek help until it’s too late.
“Prostate problems often show as urinary symptoms,” Obiesie explained. “If a man needs to urinate more than twice in two hours, or can’t hold it once he feels the urge, that’s a warning sign. If someone wakes up to pee six times at night, that’s a clear signal something is wrong and needs medical attention.”
