Gom Mirian
Renowned Professor of Economics and chieftain of Labour Party, Pat Utomi, has called for action to reduce the high death rate of Nigerian men from prostate cancer, saying the disease has quietly taken many lives but remains largely unacknowledged and under-recognised.
In a series of tweets he posted @UtomiPat on Friday, the political economist revealed his struggle with prostate cancer for which he received a diagnosis last year after he did a biopsy, saying: “Prostate cancer is bringing death and misery to many men.”
A biopsy is a test that is done to detect cancer.
He called for more enlightenment about the disease, saying it will create more awareness among men and provide information on how to deal with the situation.
“I have moved this dawn of light to confront an epidemic under the carpet with great harm to men. Prostate cancer is bringing death and misery to many men. Had they been forewarned, the misery containment and even chances of cure could be much enhanced, as women have with breast CA,” he wrote.
He further tweeted: “I did not see why it was taboo to say you were in a battle with Cancer. The more I talked about it, the more I found many of my age in similar circumstances. It almost seems like an epidemic for Nigerian men over 60. Not talking makes them lose the benefit of early detection.
“When a biopsy showed I was positive last year, I began treatment with a cancer centre with a branch in Ikeja and VI. I sometimes came from election campaigns to the Ikeja Centre near the Airport. The doctors would try to smuggle me out from the back. The well-known shielded?”
“Once elections were over, my young nephews and cousins, Doctors in Europe and the US joined forces with the Lakeshore people and decided they wanted me in their direct care.
“That’s how it seemed. I went quiet cause they controlled my phones to reduce stress.”
