A Population based Study of Prostate Cancer in Rivers State, Nigeria

Background: Cancer of the prostate (CaP) is the commonest male cancer in Nigeria. Previous CaP studies from Rivers state of Nigeria are limited in scope to individual case series or single institutional practice. Aim: To present the first population based cancer registry study findings on CaP in Rivers state. Methodology: Data from CaP patients in Port Harcourt and Obio-Akpor council areas, stored in Port Harcourt cancer registry's CanReg 4 software between 2008 and 2017 were retrieved and analysed. Information on the dates of incidence, patients place of domicile in the previous 12 months and above, age, morphology and degree of differentiation were analyzed. Result: CaP constituted 676 (25.2%) of all cancers and 56.8% of male cancers. The range, mean and peak age groups were 38-92 years, 67.1 ± 11.1 years and 70-74 years respectively. The overall age standardized incidence rate (ASR) per 100,000 of the population ranged between 13.9 in 2014 and 63.7 in 2017, with an undulating but overall increasing trend. For the peak age group (70-74 years), ASR was 89.6/100,000. Adenocarcinoma constituted 99%. While 47.3% were working class, 87% attained secondary or tertiary and 68.9% were urban dwellers. Conclusion: CaP incidence remains high in Port Harcourt and Obio-Akpor. Current mean age at presentation is lower than those of previous decades. Overall, incidence trend is upwards. Urgent public health measures that will stem the tide of the menacing threat of CaP to Nigerian men is imperative.