Windhoek: Chairperson of the Department of Urology at Heinrich Heine University, Peter Albers, has underscored the importance of early screening for prostate cancer, particularly in Namibia, where genetic and ethnic factors contribute to an increased risk. Albers was speaking at the first Southern African Prostate Cancer Summit, hosted by the University of Namibia in partnership with the German Cancer Research Center and the Ministry of Health and Social Services on Thursday.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Albers explained that understanding genetic background and ethnicity is essential for developing targeted screening and treatment strategies. These strategies, he said, could reduce prostate cancer mortality and improve early detection outcomes. Albers also highlighted the importance of advanced diagnostic tools, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and the 4K score, in detecting significant cancers and avoiding unnecessary procedures.

The 4K score, he stated, is a blood test that measures four prostate-specific biomarkers to estimate a man's risk of having aggressive prostate cancer. It helps determine whether a biopsy is necessary, thereby reducing the likelihood of unnecessary procedures. 'We have the opportunity that we can screen for prostate cancer, but what should we screen for? We should obviously screen for cancers that at least kill people or at least lead to metastasis that is expensive to treat,' he said.

'If I don't see the cancer on an MRI scan, then it is not a cancer. I think there's a lot of truth behind it, because we're looking with 200 grayscale at an MRI image and trying to identify significant cancers. If I as a non-radiologist can see a cancer cell on an MRI, that is a significant cancer, and this shows you that imaging properly helps to identify the significant cancers we want to identify,' he added.

Also speaking at the event, Professor Ellen Ndeshi Namhila, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Administration and Finance at UNAM, said the university aims to remain relevant by meeting the changing needs of students, communities and industry through impactful research and strong partnerships. She highlighted that the summit's main objectives are consolidating regional prostate cancer data, sharing best practices, and coordinating national and cross-border interventions.