📌 Quick answer: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among Nigerian men. The International Agency for Research on Cancer’s latest GLOBOCAN estimates for Nigeria record 24,396 new cases a year, 39% of all cancers in men, and 15,176 deaths. In its early stages it usually causes no symptoms, which is why many Nigerian men are diagnosed late. Men of African descent are at higher risk, so from around age 40 to 45, and earlier if a father or brother had it, ask a doctor about a PSA blood test. Warning signs include weak or interrupted urine flow, waking often at night to urinate, blood in urine or semen, and bone pain.
November is Movember, the month when men around the world grow moustaches to raise awareness of men’s health. In Nigeria, prostate cancer is the issue that matters most: it is the cancer men are most likely to get and one of the cancers they are most likely to die from.
The sad part is that prostate cancer found early is very treatable. This guide explains, in plain language, who is at risk, which symptoms to watch for, how the PSA test works, and what happens if a test comes back high.
How Common Is Prostate Cancer in Nigeria?
| Measure | Nigeria |
|---|---|
| New prostate cancer cases a year | 24,396 |
| Share of all cancers in Nigerian men | 39.0% (ranked 1st) |
| Deaths from prostate cancer a year | 15,176 |
| Men living with prostate cancer diagnosed in the past five years | 37,850 |
| Next most common cancers in men | Colorectal (9.5%), liver (3.6%), larynx (3.3%) |
Put simply, almost four in ten cancers diagnosed in Nigerian men are prostate cancers. The number of deaths, more than 15,000 a year, is high relative to the number of cases. That gap usually reflects late diagnosis: many men only see a doctor when the cancer has already spread.
What Is the Prostate?
The prostate is a small gland, about the size of a walnut, found only in men. It sits below the bladder and wraps around the tube that carries urine out of the body. It makes part of the fluid in semen. Because of where it sits, problems with the prostate often show up as changes in how a man urinates.
Who Is at Higher Risk?
- Age: risk rises sharply after 50, and most cases are diagnosed in older men.
- African ancestry: men of African descent have a higher risk of prostate cancer and are more likely to get an aggressive form at a younger age.
- Family history: a father, brother or son with prostate cancer, especially diagnosed before 65, raises your risk.
- Inherited gene changes such as BRCA2, which can also run in families with breast or ovarian cancer.
Symptoms to Watch For
Early prostate cancer often causes no symptoms at all. When symptoms appear, they can include:
- A weak or interrupted urine stream, or straining to pass urine
- Waking several times at night to urinate
- A feeling that the bladder has not emptied fully
- Blood in urine or semen
- Pain or burning when urinating, or painful ejaculation
- In advanced cases: pain in the back, hips or bones, weight loss and tiredness
Many of these symptoms are also caused by an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia), which is very common in older men and is not cancer. The only way to know is to see a doctor. Do not treat urinary symptoms with herbal mixtures and wait.
The PSA Test Explained
The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is a simple blood test. PSA is a protein made by the prostate, and higher levels can be a sign of prostate cancer, but also of an enlarged or inflamed prostate, a recent infection, or even recent ejaculation or vigorous cycling.
- There is no single “normal” number. Doctors look at your result alongside your age, the size of your prostate and how the level changes over time.
- A high PSA is not a cancer diagnosis. It means more checks are needed.
- A normal PSA does not rule cancer out completely, which is why doctors may also examine the prostate.
When should Nigerian men start?
Guidelines differ between countries. The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends that men aged 55 to 69 make an individual decision with their doctor about PSA screening, after discussing the benefits and the risks of overtreatment. Because men of African descent face a higher and earlier risk, many specialists advise them to start that conversation earlier, from about 40 to 45, and earlier still if a close relative had prostate cancer. If you are a Nigerian man over 40, raise it at your next check-up.
What Happens if Your PSA Is High?
- Repeat test: your doctor may repeat the PSA after a few weeks, especially if you had an infection or recent ejaculation.
- Digital rectal examination: a quick physical check of the prostate by a doctor.
- Imaging: an ultrasound or MRI scan of the prostate, where available.
- Biopsy: small samples of prostate tissue are taken and examined. This is the only way to confirm cancer and to see how aggressive it is.
- Staging: if cancer is found, scans show whether it has spread.
Treatment Options
Treatment depends on how advanced and how aggressive the cancer is, and on the man’s age and general health.
| Situation | Common options |
|---|---|
| Small, slow-growing cancer | Active surveillance: regular PSA tests and checks, treating only if it grows |
| Cancer confined to the prostate | Surgery to remove the prostate (radical prostatectomy) or radiotherapy |
| Cancer that has spread | Hormone therapy to lower testosterone, which slows the cancer, sometimes with chemotherapy or newer drugs |
| Symptom relief in advanced disease | Pain control, radiotherapy to painful bones, and palliative care |
Where to Start in Nigeria
- Your primary health centre or general hospital can order a PSA test and refer you to a urologist.
- Federal medical centres and teaching hospitals have urology departments and handle biopsies and surgery; many also run cancer centres with radiotherapy.
- Ask about costs before tests. Prices vary widely between public and private laboratories. Ask for the price list, and check what your HMO or NHIA plan covers.
- Look out for free screening. Hospitals, state ministries of health and NGOs often run free or subsidised prostate screening during Movember and Men’s Health Week.
Can You Lower Your Risk?
You cannot change your age, ancestry or family history, which are the strongest risk factors. Staying at a healthy weight, being physically active and not smoking are good for overall health and may help. The single most useful step is early testing, so that if cancer develops it is found while it can still be cured.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common cancer in Nigerian men?
Prostate cancer, at 39% of all cancers diagnosed in men, according to IARC’s GLOBOCAN estimates for Nigeria.
At what age should a man check his prostate in Nigeria?
Talk to a doctor about a PSA test from about 40 to 45, earlier if a close relative had prostate cancer. US guidance sets 55 to 69 for most men, but men of African descent are at higher risk.
Is a high PSA always cancer?
No. An enlarged or inflamed prostate, an infection or recent ejaculation can raise PSA. Further tests, including a biopsy, are needed to diagnose cancer.
What are the early signs of prostate cancer?
Often there are none. When symptoms appear, they include a weak urine stream, waking at night to urinate and blood in urine or semen.
Can prostate cancer be cured?
Yes, especially when found early, with surgery or radiotherapy. Advanced cancer can be controlled for years with hormone therapy and other treatments.
Sources
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) – Global Cancer Observatory, Nigeria fact sheet, September 2026 edition
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) – Global Cancer Observatory, prostate cancer fact sheet
- US Preventive Services Task Force – Recommendation on screening for prostate cancer
Last updated: 8 November 2026 · NaijaSabi Health Desk. This article is for general information and is not a substitute for advice from a doctor.
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