September is observed annually as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, which is a public campaign geared toward lending support to those living with prostate cancer while encouraging and highlighting the importance of prostate cancer screening.

According to the Mayo Clinic, prostate cancer is a cancer that occurs in the prostate. This is a small walnut-shaped gland in males that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm.

Locally, prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in Jamaica. According to statistics from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, there were 1,561 new cases of prostate cancer in Jamaica in 2020.

The overall health-seeking behaviour of men is a major contributing factor in the large number of prostate cancer cases recorded on the island. The Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey III carried out by the Ministry of Health and Wellness in 2016/2017 found that only 28.2 per cent of Jamaican men 40 years and older have ever done a digital rectal examination.

The survey also revealed that only 5.1 per cent of men 40 years and older were sent by a healthcare provider for a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, and only 1.9 per cent of men in that age group reported having the test done.

Why get tested for prostate cancer?

Men 40 years and older are encouraged to get screened for prostate cancer to aid in the early detection of the cancer, thus extending their life expectancy.

A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is generally done to measure the level of prostate-specific antigen in the blood. According to the Mayo Clinic, PSA is a protein that is produced by both cancerous and non-cancerous tissue in the prostate.

A digital rectal exam (DRE) may also be conducted in the screening process by which a doctor inserts a finger into the rectum to feel for any abnormality in the prostate.

Prostate cancer screening is an essential component in detecting the cancer as many men who are living with prostate cancer do not display any symptoms in the early stages.

The Jamaica Cancer Society, a non-profit organisation that was established in 1955 with a mandate to fight and defeat cancer in all its forms, has been offering free prostate cancer screening which includes PSA tests and digital exams to men between the ages of 40 to 70 years.

The entity will be providing free screening on Friday, September 29, at the Port Antonio Hospital, Portland.

See the flyer below for additional details:

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