Nurse Mutual Archer (left) drawing blood from 40-year-old Sean Greenidge to be tested for prostate cancer.
OVER two hundred men in Barbados have been screened through PSA testing, facilitated by the Cancer Support Services, for prostate cancer thus far for 2018.
Furthermore, the Cancer Support Services is reporting that there has been a noticeable increase in the amount of young males coming forward to be tested for the cancer, which kills more than 95 men in Barbados every year.
Yesterday, Cancer Support Services held its second PSA testing, at its Belmont Road, St. Michael office.
“We are very happy to see that younger men are coming out to be screened, that is a very good sign. It is good to start screening early,” Executive Director of Cancer Support Services, Janette Lynton, told the media.
“Men might not want to go to their physician, but we find that they come here because of the atmosphere and they can sit and chat with the other men, rather than being in a waiting room among males and females,” Lynton added.
Two months ago, almost 100 men were screened at the Cancer Support Services, while 132 received the test yesterday, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Lynton, the founding member of the 21-year-old organisation, is reminding Barbadian men that being screened for prostate cancer is a very important step that must be taken, since early detection determines whether treatment will be effective.
Prostate Cancer is more likely to occur the older a man becomes, starting from age 40. It is more common and aggressive among black men. The risk is increased if an individual has a relative with prostate cancer. There may be few or no symptoms in the early stages.
After receiving his test, Samuel Carrington told The Barbados Advocate that he would encourage men to get tested, noting that this is the third time he has been screened.
“It is cheap, easy, it is simple, it is a needle just being inserted in the hand. Come out and bring your sons, once they are at a certain age,” Carrington said. (AH)