Durban survivor urges men to screen for prostate cancer
Survivor Dumisani Pakkies urges early screening as prostate cancer often shows no symptoms until it get worse.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in South African men, and many only come when it is already advanced. Black men have a higher risk and should start talking to their doctor about testing from age 40 to 45. Other men should start at 50, or at 40 to 45 if it runs in the family.
According to GLOBOCAN, prostate cancer is now the most prevalent cancer in SA men and the second most deadly after lung cancer. One in four Black men and one in eight white men will be diagnosed in their lifetime.
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According to the Oncologist Dr Qhamisa Mbalo, early prostate cancer usually has no symptoms at all. That is why testing matters. Later signs can include difficulty passing urine, a weak stream, needing to force urine out, dribbling after urination, getting up often at night, blood in urine, and back or bone pain.
The founder of TEMPUDU-Kuzolunga Organisation and prostate cancer survivor, Dumisani Pakkies, who was diagnosed in 2020 with stage 3 cancer despite having no symptoms.
According to Pakkies, what is more painful about cancer is the symptoms that you get when everything is done and you are already at the peak of the disease.
“That is why we encourage men to do the screening when they still don’t have symptoms so they can get necessary help if they are found positive,” he said.
Among those who came to check their status was Mthembeni Khumalo (64), from Nagina, who came after recognising some symptoms. After his check-up he said,
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“To every old person, I would like to encourage you to always do check-ups especially men since we are the ones who always refuse to go to doctors.”
Philani Ndwalane (57) said, “I started seeing signs related to cancer and I have always wanted to get a check-up because my uncle from my father’s side was diagnosed with cancer at a later stage and where I am working my boss passed away because of cancer.”
The PSA test is a simple blood test. The rectal exam is when the doctor gently feels the prostate with a gloved finger. If either is abnormal, a biopsy confirms whether cancer is there. Surgery, radiation and hormone therapy are available in the public sector in KZN, but waiting times can be long, which is why early diagnosis matters. Early cancer can be cured. For support, contact CANSA on 0800 22 66 22 or Dumisani Pakkies founder of TEMPUDU-Kuzolunga Organisation on 072 444 0837.
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