04-05-2025
Prostate Cancer, Second Most Common Cancer Among Moroccan Men
Rabat — The Moroccan Association for Prostate Health revealed that prostate cancer ranks as the second most common cancer affecting men in Morocco, accounting for 16.1% of all male cancers.
The association organized a conference on Saturday in Marrakech that brought together medical specialists, researchers, and experts in urology, kidney surgery, pathology, and medical analysis to discuss the situation of prostate cancer in Morocco.
Participants pointed out that the North African country possesses the necessary medical resources, scientific capabilities, and human expertise to combat prostate cancer.
They also agreed on the significance of early detection in the process of slowing prostate cancer's spread and reducing death rates.
Speaking of Morocco's strategies in dealing with the disease, Ahmed El Mansouri, President of the Moroccan Association for Prostate Health, referred to the adoption of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) technology for treating prostate cancer in the country.
He further explained how this technique pays off in effective treatment without complications, noting that early detection while still localized before spreading to neighboring organs is an important step in the treatment process.
For her part, Professor Latifa Bouskri from the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy in Marrakech, who also serves as Secretary General of the Association, outlined the prostate cancer situation in Morocco, revealing that data shows it is the second most common cancer among Moroccan men.
Echoing El Mansouri's explanation on HIFU, she noted that this technology stands as a breakthrough in treating localized prostate tumors, especially due to its precision in targeting tumors without requiring major surgery.
Read also: World Cancer Day: Morocco Reports 40,000 Cases, 13.4% Death Rate Yearly
She continued that HIFU significantly contributes to preserving vital functions and quality of life for patients.
Bouskri also pointed out the essential role of catheterization in managing certain clinical cases associated with prostate cancer, particularly when facing complications, making it a supportive tool within the comprehensive treatment system.
The scientific gathering featured several presentations covering topics such as prostate specific-antigen testing for early detection, the role of pathology in diagnosing prostate cancer and treatment, the differences in symptoms between benign prostate enlargement and prostate cancer.
In conjunction with the conference, the Moroccan Association for Prostate Health partnered with the Marrakech Sports for All Association to organize the first road race for prostate health on Sunday in the Red City under the slogan 'Let's All Run Against Prostate Cancer.'
Cancer situation in Morocco
Cancer has been identified as the second leading cause of death in the country, with recent data revealing that approximately 40,000 new cases are diagnosed annually in Morocco.
The concerning incidence rate of 137.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants places the North African country in a critical situation, with mortality due to cancer accounting for 13.4%. Tags: Cancer MoroccoProstate CancerProstate cancer in Morocco
