African men are nearly twice as likely to die from prostate cancer as men of European or Asian descent.
This grim reality was highlighted by world-renowned geneticist Prof. Vanessa Hayes during the inaugural Cancer Genomics Conference at the Hilton Hotel last week. Hayes, who holds research affiliations with the University of Sydney, the University of Pretoria and the University of Nairobi, warned that the disparity is particularly devastating on the continent, where access to screening and early diagnosis remains limited.
The World Health Organisation states that prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men globally, killing more than 375 000 men annually.
In Namibia, the disease accounts for about 16% of all male cancer cases, with survival rates plunging when detection comes too late – a frequent scenario in rural communities.
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“It raised a fundamental question: why are African men so disproportionately affected?” Hayes said.
This question has guided her career for more than two decades.
In the early 2000s, while working in Cape Town’s Tygerberg Hospital during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Hayes was struck by the large numbers of African men presenting with late-stage, aggressive prostate tumours.
Today, she leads a global consortium linking researchers from South Africa, Kenya, the United States and Australia.
At its core is the Southern African Prostate Cancer Study, launched in 2008 after Limpopo’s traditional leaders voiced concern that men’s health was being neglected while public health initiatives focused mainly on women and children.
What makes the study unique is its grounding in rural African communities, often excluded from international cancer research.
By gathering genetic and health data from these under-represented populations, the team is shedding new light on the interplay between ancestry, environment and lifestyle in shaping prostate cancer risk.
For Namibia and the wider continent, the research could pave the way for earlier, targeted screening strategies and culturally sensitive awareness campaigns.
These interventions may save thousands of lives each year.
“Our goal is bigger than drug design,” Hayes said.
“We want to improve risk awareness, early detection and survival rates for those most at risk,” she added.
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International funding agencies are taking notice, with hopes that Hayes’ pioneering work will not only transform prostate cancer outcomes in Africa but also serve as a blueprint for tackling other diseases that disproportionately affect African populations.
Her message is clear: health equity is not just a scientific challenge but a moral one.
If her vision succeeds, the next generation of African men, including those in Namibia, could look forward to a future where prostate cancer is no longer a silent killer.