A leading robotic urological surgeon has warned Nigerians against believing that regular sex, herbal mixtures, or specific diets can prevent prostate cancer, calling it one of the most dangerous myths driving late diagnoses.
Prof. Kingsley Ekwueme, CEO and Medical Director of The Prostate Clinic (TPC), made the clarification during the clinic’s first anniversary in Lagos, commercial capital of the nation on Sunday, May 10.
He said the idea that sexual activity or “sour salt and pots of tomatoes” can ward off the disease has no scientific backing.
“No amount of sex, unfortunately, can stop you from prostate cancer. Yes, even male gigolos will develop prostate cancer,” Ekwueme said.
“There is no known cause of prostate cancer. What we have are established risk factors: age, being black, and family history. Every other claim is speculation.”
The 3 Real Risk Factors
Ekwueme outlined the only factors proven to increase risk:
- Age: Prostate cancer is rare in men under 30, but risk rises sharply after 50. The peak age is 60–65. Autopsy studies show prostate enlargement begins as early as age 30.
- Ethnicity: Black men face a higher risk and are more likely to develop aggressive forms of the disease. “You are more likely to die of prostate cancer as a black man compared to other ethnicities,” he said.
- Family History Having a father, brother, or uncle with prostate cancer significantly increases your risk and can make the disease appear up to 7 years earlier. Men with a family history should start PSA blood tests at 45, not 50.
No Diet or Supplement Prevents it
Ekwueme said millions have been spent globally searching for a preventive diet, with no success.
“I’ve had people come to the clinic taking sour salt, drinking pots of tomatoes. There is no dietary relationship that is confirmed. All failed. So don’t waste your time,” he said.
He stressed that while healthy eating is good for cardiovascular health, it should not be mistaken for cancer prevention.
The Bigger Problem: late Detection
The surgeon warned that fear, silence, and misinformation are causing over 80% of Nigerian men to present with late-stage prostate cancer, when treatment options are limited. In the UK, only 12.5% present at an incurable stage.
“Men often waste critical time on unproven mixtures only to present to hospitals when the cancer is already incurable,” he said.
TPC treated 100 patients in its first year and aims to close the gap in advanced urological care locally.
*Ekwueme’s advice:* Don’t wait for symptoms. Early testing saves lives. “You may fear losing your erections, but you should be far more afraid of losing your life to a disease that is treatable if caught in time.”
