Professor Papa Ahmed Fall, head of the urology department at Dalal Jam hospital, announced that at least 1,000 cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed each year in Senegal. However, he believes that this figure is probably underestimated.
During a press conference on the management of this disease, Professor Fall stressed the importance of early diagnosis. According to him, cancer detected early can be cured with treatments available in Senegal. On the other hand, late diagnosis makes treatment very expensive and sometimes unavailable.
He lamented that only 20% of cases are detected early, allowing radical treatment. The majority of cases are discovered at an advanced stage, which complicates treatment and can affect the patient’s survival and well-being.
The cost of initial treatment is around 250,000 to 300,000 FCFA every three months, but if unsuccessful, it could reach up to 1 million FCFA per month. Faced with these high costs, Professor Fall urged the authorities to take supportive measures.
Fatma Guenoune, president of the Senegalese league against cancer, also pleaded for free hormone therapy. She asked the President of the Republic to invest in the treatment of male cancers.
Senegal
