Men urged to check prostate cancer status; disease claims 300 lives annually

With concerns that hundreds of men are dying each year as a result of prostate cancer, corporate Barbados is teaming up with the Barbados Cancer Society to get more people to screen and test for the disease.

On Friday, CEMIX Concrete launched its Movember Prostate Cancer Campaign to bring awareness to the risks associated with prostate cancer.

During November, two branded CEMIX trucks with the prostate cancer ribbon and the moustache will be displayed so that people can snap a photo and post it on social media for the chance to win an iPad.

Chief Executive Officer of the JADA Group of Companies, Philip Tempro revealed some alliances they have formed to execute a longer awareness campaign.

“The men here are quite problematic in terms of being afraid to get tested. One of the things that we’re working on with major corporations in Barbados and ourselves is to come for this coming year…. We’ve been successful with four very large groups on the island that are going to partner with us to do some testing and serious drives. We’re going to unveil that over the next month or so with this campaign,” Tempro disclosed, adding that he also intends to sponsor quarterly testing programmes.

President of the Barbados Cancer Society, Dr David Rosin emphasised the importance of Barbadian men being alert and aware of the risks associated with prostate cancer.

He said prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Barbados, and more than 300 men die from the disease every year.

Dr Rosin urged men to allay their fears of the testing process to ensure they know their status. Dr Elizabeth Ferdinand, a council member, also gave the assurance that other less invasive options for testing are available.

“We need to get men aware, first of all, and know what to do, how to get themselves examined and to not be afraid. I think it’s in their thoughts, especially when you think that you might have to have a rectal examination. We can have blood tests, it doesn’t have to be a physical examination,” she said.

Dr Ferdinand appealed to women to encourage men to get tested for prostate cancer.

(LG)