Prostate cancer screenings reveal worrying statistics
Organisers of a recently-held Men’s Health Fair are urging men to do their prostate cancer screenings after worrying results were identified among men who were screened at the event.
The annual Prostate Cancer Screening and Men’s Health Fair was held by the BVI Red Cross in partnership with Harneys. A total of 476 men from across the territory did their prostate screenings at the two-day event, which was hosted on Virgin Gorda and Tortola.
Of this number, 13 per cent had an abnormal result from the Digital Rectal Examination (DRE). Director of the BVI Red Cross Stacy Lloyd said organisers and health professionals were alarmed by the statistic because it represents a decline in men’s health when compared to the figures retrieved last year.
“This result is alarming because, at this year’s fair, the participation numbers dropped by 104 men. This 13 per cent means that approximately one in every eight men that we screen will have an abnormal result which is alarming for a population of our size,” Lloyd explained to BVI News.
“There should be a concern for our community because from the two fairs we had, there has been an increase in the number of abnormal results despite a decrease in the number of men attending the fair,” she added
Successful fair
Despite the worrying statistic, Lloyd said men in the Virgin Islands aren’t usually hesitant to get screened for prostate cancer. She said this year’s fair was very successful as 110 men participated for the first time.
“This was an increase from previous years. The objective of the fair is not to be a supplement to formal medical institutions but to encourage men in the territory to visit the doctor and to take their health more seriously. Another indicator that that fair was successful is that 61 men were able to know their health status and seek further diagnosis and treatment for their condition,” Lloyd explained.
She added that the fair was a community effort with a number of doctors and nurses who volunteered their services. Among them were: Dr Elson Vanterpool; Dr Hohn Franklyn; Dr Denley Fraser; and Nurse Helen Frett, RN, as well as other trained volunteers of the BVI Red Cross.
Lloyed also expressed gratitude to BVI nursing students who assisted in acquiring health information, checking blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels.
“Students were also able to shadow the doctor and nurses to learn the process of phlebotomy (the process of withdrawing blood) to acquire the Prostate Specific Antigen protein to meet their clinical requirements,” Lloyd stated.
The annual fair is a free event that the BVI Red Cross has delivered for the past 28 years.
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please hold another screening
Polluted air,water,seafood
I want Stacy to check me for prostate personally
It’s time for our government and people to pay close attention to what might be causing such alarming statistics as cancer is on the rise. If we don’t act fast this situation will grow out of control.
would be a better time for most working men. The screening on the last weekend of March in VG and the first weekend of April on Tortola was NOT a good time for most men. Most men have to WORK on the weekend during the tourist season and then have a random day off during the normal work week.
taking a full day off to get someone to poke your botty might be a good time for some, but us men on Anegada can’t give that time, yet again Anegada forgotten about, wait maybe a blessing my botty still not poked!
The news have the statistics but I still waiting for my result from the test
ignorance surely is bliss. If you are a man, you will be the first one regreting not getting yourself tested. It is ok not to go to the screening. If you have your private doctor, go ahead. Just get it checked annually. Sickness have no boundaries, no matter the island, so if you think cancer going be merciful on people based on what island they live on, you better think again. You fool
Eat healthy
Stay away from bbq
Everyday it’s bbq leg this charred food is not healthy
Drink plenty water home made juice stay off soda
Watch your sugar intake
Vitamin D3 flaxseed Sunflower Apricot and pumpkin seeds
Get a fresh glass of wheatgrass drink
Also the older folks says stinging nettle bush for prostrate
Get the bush make tea
If u can’t access the bush go natures way and get the stinging nettle teas and supplements
Please let’s take our health back
Mater ?
How is it toxic?
Stupid comment
They need to also consider the fact that there are men who get their annual screenings done by their private physicians. The only way to get a true picture of men’s health is to get data from the private clinics/ medical facilities as well. I personally get my screening for prostate done by my private doctor.
The Director is hot and very intelligent.
That looks like the wi(ked jamdown that live up the ghut, he and his wife should remember God don’t like wickedness!
The problem is multiple reasons.
Men at deh clubs loosing all that bodily fluid, too much rums, laziness as a belonger, and evil cats. If you hit a pothole while passing a cat, you will have prostate cancer. Guaranteed. My auntie said so
Wondering if the rise of abnormal results have anything to do with the vax?
Are the newly diagnosed the men who took the vax?
Time to get some good doctors in and BVI own oncologist.