Westmoreland taking aim at prostate cancer and breaking cultural barriers

Western Bureau:

The fight against prostate cancer takes centre stage this month in Westmoreland as the parish gears up for a major health fair aimed at mobilising men to take their health seriously.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Misty Blue Cancer Care Foundation in partnership with the Westmoreland Health Department, will be held on September 25 at the Westmoreland Independence Park in Savanna-la-Mar. The day’s activities will commence at 9 a.m. and continue through to 5 p.m.

Gerald Miller, parish health promotion and education officer, told The Gleaner that the day will be packed with screenings and services designed to break cultural barriers surrounding men’s health.

“The National Health Fund will be coming to provide blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol (checks). We are hoping to get ECG. They also do BMI, which is the body mass index,” said Miller. “And we are going to be providing HIV, syphilis testing … the PSA, which is the prostate specific antigen, a blood test that will give an indicator as it relates to what is happening in the prostate.”

Miller also noted that even the digital rectal examination, long resisted by men, is gaining acceptance.

“Over the years, in the past two to three years, I’ve seen a change in that behaviour … the men are requesting it. So that’s good news for us in terms of the change in the behaviour,” he said. “It might not be spectacular, significant to a large extent, but incrementally, it’s a good sign that the men are responding, and they are accepting that.”

Miller added that mobilisation is already under way in the lead-up to the big day.

“We do have a listing of men who would have participated. So we are going to use that listing (to) call to remind them … . And we have been circulating that via WhatsApp … So that is a good sign.”

Miller also pointed out that men unable to attend will still benefit.

DISCOUNTS WITH NHF CARDS

“If you have a male, once he is between 40 and 75, and he has an NHF (National Health Fund) card, he can get a discount from the National Health Fund card if he goes to a healthcare provider … at least $1,920 off the cost,” Miller said, naming Dr Reddy’s Medical Centre and Winchester Heart Centre as two local providers.

Beyond screenings, Miller emphasised the need to shift entrenched ideas of masculinity.

“The traditional masculine norms in our society… that we are stoic, we are strong and certain things … . We don’t want to go to the doctor too frequently because we don’t want people to perceive us that we are soft … . That’s one of the things that we are trying to break the back of. It’s not easy. It’s a cultural thing.”

He continued: “We have seen where the men now are becoming more aware, and they are responding in a more positive way. And what we have been trying to do [is] to get the women … to push the men.”

Meanwhile, the founder of Misty Blue Cancer Care Foundation, Dorothy Satchwell, said this year’s staging marks a decade of relentless advocacy born from her own cancer journey.

“In 2015, we launched the Misty Blue Cancer Care Foundation, which came about because of my cancer diagnosis and treatment,” she shared. “In terms of resources that were available for cancer treatment or cancer care, cancer support in the parish, it was almost non-existent. But things have significantly improved over the last 10 years.”

Through years of outreach, the foundation has helped dispel myths and fears surrounding cancer.

“Persons, once they hear cancer, it was synonymous to death … . But with information, I think we are now seeing significant changes in terms of people’s attitudes towards screening,” Satchwell said.

YOUNGER MEN TURNING OUT

She recalled that when the initiative began, it was mostly elderly men who turned up for prostate checks. Today, younger men are coming forward, influenced not only by information but also by seeing peers and relatives affected.

“Cancer is not only exclusive for the old and dying now,” she said. “And I think the approach that we take where you have that one-on-one discussion with them, it has made a difference.”

Satchwell pointed to lingering misconceptions that continue to affect men’s willingness to get screened.

“One of the things I think we had picked up on was diet, where people felt if you eat ackee, it is going to increase your risk. There was also the conversation around how often you have sex. Some of them were told that the more you ejaculate, and there is some scientific evidence to it, but the frequent ejaculation does not minimise risk to that level that excludes you from having your screening.”

She added,: “You’re ejaculating a lot, but you’re drinking the Boom, you’re smoking a cigarette, you’re drinking the rum, yes? You’re eating the fast food. So the amount of ejaculation that you’re having is minuscule in comparison to the other negative behaviours that you’re having.”

Satchwell stressed that prostate cancer is highly treatable if caught early.

“It only becomes treatable, to the point where you can enjoy life afterwards, if you start getting treatment early, not when you’re at end stage,” she said.

Behind the statistics are people who have, thankfully, discovered their ailment early enough. Satchwell recalled one man who tested with a PSA level of 550, anything over 4 for a PSA being abnormal.

“He could have been riding his bicycle down Great George Street and dropped dead any given day. And he lived for about five years. At least he got five additional years, which I am sure would not have happened if he hadn’t had the intervention.”

Another man, diagnosed with an aggressive cancer, was able to survive through treatment and family support.

“When we had the health fair in April, he came looking like he looked better than before he had the cancer,” Satchwell recalled. “And he came to the mic and said, ‘Don’t mess with this’.”

These stories, she said, underline the importance of screening and consistent follow-up.

Cancer mortality remains high in the parish.

“In 2023, we had 1,350 people in Westmoreland dying from cancer. And out of that, I think there was, like, a little under 100 of them who were for prostate cancer,” Satchwell reported.

The impact extends beyond health, hitting families hard. As Miller explained, “Cancer treatment is very expensive. It’s very costly. And it can impact a family in a very significant way with your resources. And many times, some of these men are the major breadwinners.”

While 100 fatalities may seem small, the number is still shocking as the message being sent is that prostate cancer is preventable, treatable, and survivable, but this is only if men take the first step.

“We want persons to come out, men and women, encouraging men to come out to be screened for prostate cancer,” Miller urged.

Satchwell added, “Prostate cancer is the most treatable type of cancer that we have right now, but you must start early. Screening saves lives.”

mickalia.kington@gleanerjm.com