‘Get with the programme!’

During the Cancer Support Services Panel discussion entitled ‘Can We Talk? My Cancer Journey, Peril or Triumph’, which took place Thursday night at the Courtney Blackman Grande Salle, President of the CSS, Henderson Griffith, spoke on the importance of early and frequent testing.

Griffith noted that if not for being tested early, his cancer journey could have ended very differently.

“Early detection is the only way that we ensure that we control our health, especially when it comes to cancer. Apart from going to the doctor on a regular basis and getting your check ups, make sure you get your annual PSAs etc, Cancer Support does one every six weeks,” he said.

He also noted that the CSS was also getting into testing for colon cancer as well, and encouraged persons to go to the CSS to be tested as well.

He revealed that one person came in to the CSS to be tested and his PSA was high and his blood pressure was through the roof; he was one of the lucky ones.

He encouraged members in the audience to speak to the men in their lives and encourage them to go and get checked on a regular basis.

Graham Bannister, cancer survivor and member of the panel noted that he believed men believed they were too macho to be tested.

“Men feel they are too macho and they don’t want to go to the doctor, since I’ve had my surgery and been back out to work I have spoken with the men in my office encouraging them to get tested and when I encourage them to get their prostate checked they don’t want to go do that either, they rather the PSA,” he said.

“PSAs are good but they do not tell the whole truth, they could be misled by any number of things. Men need to stop with this foolishness and get with the programme and realise the only way we can deal with it is to get checked early.”

He considered himself lucky as he was able to be tested early enough which allowed for early detection and his fight with cancer was a successful one.

“Prevention is better than cure – get with the programme!” he urged. (CLF)