What Is This Prostate Cancer Thing Sef? (FOR MEN)

For a long time, it has been considered that men in the African continent are at lower risk of prostate cancer (PC), although African American (AA) men have the highest incidence and mortality rates of PC, recent clinical data suggest something quite different. PC is now the leading cancer in men in most African countries, despite the lack of population-based cancer registration data.

I will be taking us back to biology class on this one. I can vividly remember how everyone always look forward to 'REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM' classes, especially the boys...lol. I will start with what a Prostate means.

It is a small gland that is part of the male reproductive system. It's supposed to be about the shape and size of a walnut (Asala in Yoruba).
It rests below your bladder and in front of your rectum (close to the anus). It surrounds part of the urethra (the tube in your penis that carries pee from your bladder).
The prostate helps make some of the fluid in semen, which carries sperm from your testicles (Epon) when you ejaculate.




As you age, your prostate can become larger - it is very normal for most aging men. By the time you reach age 40, your prostate might have gone from the size of a walnut to the size of an apricot. By the time you reach 60, it might be the size of a lemon. This can then cause the enlarged prostate to squeeze the tube in which it surrounds. This causes problems when you try to pee. Typically, you won’t see these problems until you’re 50 or older, but they can start earlier. This condition is what Oyinbo calls benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH for short and It is not cancerous.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Symptoms of BPH and Prostate diseases (including Prostate cancer) are as follows:

• decreased force of urine stream;
• difficulty starting (hesitancy);
• the need to strain to urinate;
• stopping/starting of the urine stream (intermittency);
• frequent urination;
• dribbling;
• pain or burning during urination,
• erectile dysfunction;
• painful ejaculation;
• blood in urine or semen and/or deep back, hip, pelvic or abdominal pain.

The risk of developing prostate cancer of men suffering BPH is one that has resulted in a healthy debate amongst the urological community. Some risk factors for cancer can be avoided, but many cannot. For example, both smoking and inheriting certain genes are risk factors for some types of cancer, but only smoking can be avoided. Regular exercise and a healthy diet may be protective factors for some types of cancer. Avoiding risk factors and increasing protective factors may lower your risk but it does not mean that you will not get cancer.

The exact causes of prostate cancer are not known. For a cancer to develop, changes must occur in the chemicals that make up the DNA, which makes up the genes in the cell. The genes control how the cell works, for example, how quickly the cell grows, divides into new cells, and dies, as well as correcting any mistakes that occur in the DNA of the cell to keep the cell working normally. Genes are inherited (passed on from parents to their children) and thus some changes in the genes (gene mutations) that increase the risk of developing cancer may be inherited. For prostate cancer, approximately 5%-10% of prostate cancers are due to inherited gene changes. Gene changes may also be acquired (develop during the course of your life). These changes are not passed on to children. It is thought that at times during normal cell growth, risk factors may affect the DNA of the cell.

According to World Health Organisation one-third of cancers can be prevented. Another third can be effectively cured with early detection.

The choice of treatment is based on type and stage of cancer, and the overall health of the patient. Low-risk prostate cancer may not need immediate treatment, but regular follow-up is advised.
Medication, Hormone therapy, Chemotherapy, Self care, Radical prostatectomy, Orchiectomy are treatment options. 

If you have any of the symptoms, it is important to contact your health care practitioner. The symptoms of these conditions can also occur in more serious infections and conditions, so a correct diagnosis is important.

Have a Happy Sunday!
Pharm G B. IDAMKUE

Reference:
1. link accessed on the 26th, August 2018
2. link accessed on the 26th, August 2018
3. link accessed on the 27th, August 2018

Is It A “Wicklo”, “Witlo”, “Whitlow” or Just a “Felon” (with pictures)

So i was at the cinema last week, when i heard a lady tell her friend that she has "wicklo", the friend suddenly burst out laughing and said it is called "whitlow" and not "wicklo", they actually went on arguing for almost 2minutes and eventually decided to google. Then i remembered that i was once in that same shoe and thought, how many others still makes this mistake? Anyway that brings me to the topic of today... WHITLOW                               (Between, the movie: Seven and half dates is hilariously hilarious, trust me!)

 A Whitlow is an infection of the finger, especially the fingertip. It is typically caused by a virus called herpes simplex virus (HSV) or a bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus. It is called herpetic whitlow, when caused by the virus and Felon, when caused by the bacteria.
Herpetic whitlow is an infection where small blisters form on the fleshy area around the fingertips. These sores or blisters often cause throbbing pains. A whitlow can occur when broken skin on your finger comes in direct contact with body fluids infected with the HSV. These body fluids may come from you or someone else.

Herpectic Withlow with Blisters

When the HSV infection appears on the finger in the form of a whitlow, the symptoms are similar to herpes on other parts of the body. The first symptoms usually appear between 2-20 days after the person is exposed to the virus. The infected area will burn or tingle, and the person may begin to experience pain before any noticeable lesion shows up. The finger will then begin to swell and redden as the infection develops. Blisters will appear and begin to fill with liquid or pus. There maybe just one blister, or a group of them. They are typically small and very painful to the touch. These blisters will then burst and scab over in the weeks to come. Once the scabs heal, the infection returns to its dormant state.

Herpetic withlow on toes

Whitlow is caused by the same virus responsible for cold sores and genital herpes, therefore it is extremely contagious.  
Herpetic whitlow doesn’t require treatment. The condition usually heals within a few weeks without medication, but an antiviral drug can shorten the duration of an infection. However, antivirals are only effective when taken within 48 hours of developing symptoms.
Antivirals also lower the risk of spreading the infection to other people. A blister can rupture and become infected with bacteria, in this case an antibiotic will be prescribed. You can treat herpetic whitlow at home by taking a pain reliever such as diclofenac or ibuprofen to reduce pain and fever, applying a cold compress several times a day to reduce swelling and cleaning the infected area daily and covering it with gauze.

Both herpetic whitlow and felon present with the same symptoms. Felon usually appear around the pulp of the fingertip and instead of blisters, it present a big swollen pulp filled with pus. However, while herpetic whitlow can be self limiting, Felon has to be treated with an antibiotic and sometimes, the pus is being drained by incision to aid blood flow.

Felon infected fingers

Kindly do not try to drain pus by yourself, as this might lead to serious complications. Contact a healthcare provider!
Ways to prevent these infections include common safety measures to prevent having open wounds on your fingers and toes, Avoid chewing on nails and wash hands as needed.

Have a fulfilling, non-splashing-of-dirty-water-by-car-drivers week!

Pharm G B. IDAMKUE

Reference:
1. link accessed on the 10th of August, 2018
2. link accessed on the 10th of August, 2018
3. link accessed on the 10th of August, 2018