GRPA calls for more men to be screened for prostate cancer

Kobe Smith, the Director of the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA), says not enough men are being screened for prostate cancer, and attributed that to stigma and lack of awareness.

During an interview with the News Room, Smith said healthcare professionals are seeing too many cases diagnosed at advanced stages, when treatment options are more limited. At the GRPA, the turnout by men is marginally lower than that of women.

“If in fact we have delivered about more than 2,000 cancer screenings at GRPA, men would be just less than 500 which is generally reflective of the culture around men’s health,” Smith said.

Prostate cancer is a common malignancy that begins in the walnut-sized prostate gland. In many cases, it has no symptoms until it reaches the advanced stages. It is highly treatable if found early. Key symptoms include urinary issues, pelvic pain, and weak stream.

Smith warned that prostate cancer often develops without early symptoms, particularly for men over 40 or those with a family history of the disease.

He said the issue lies in lack of awareness and low inter-personal discussions with men. As such, the GRPA has directed its outreach efforts away from public seminars to more targeted efforts in companies, communities and on social media.

Still, there is stigma attached to this type of screening. Smith explained that it is due to lack of information. 

“There still exists a lot of taboo around men accessing healthcare. When you tell a man to get your prostate checked, they say oh you’re going to put something in my anus, which is not the case, you can get a PSA where you take a blood sample to check the health of a man’s prostate,” Smith said.

Smith said communication to help normalise discussions around men’s health is paramount.

“It’s better to know whether you’re unhealthy and if you are, then there are steps you can take to address that,” he said.

He also said that men have to prioritise early detection and regular check-ups.