Prostate cancer screening campaign

Men in their forties and over have been served notice that they can access free prostate screening being provided by the Dominica Cancer Society in collaboration with the Ross Medical School.

The organisers say the screening on Saturday March 10 will take place in Roseau at the Ross University facility at the Princess Margaret Hospital.

Men in the Portsmouth area will also get a chance to check their prostate, according to the Cancer Society.

They are arranging for screening there at the Clinical facility of Portsmouth General Hospital three weeks later on March 31.

The screening activities will include “Digital rectal examination” along with relevant medical check-ups, according to the Cancer Society’s Patrick Henderson.

He has indicated that “starting from 9 am in the morning men will be seen on a first come first serve basis”.

“The Doctors and medical students hope to continue through the afternoon until they have managed to screen all those who attend. There will be a choice of genders of medical students. At the end of the examination a report will be given to the attendee with recommendations for his Doctor to take appropriate action, if any,” Henderson said.

The Cancer Society has indicated that over 80 men received free exams last year through this initiative.

“Since men generally seek medical care without any kind of regularity, by the time a man experiences symptoms and gets checked it can be too late. This initiative seeks to get men to be proactive as far as their prostate health is concerned,” a release from the society says.

It is encouraging men over 40 to take advantage of this opportunity to check on that aspect of their health.

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13 Comments

  1. Tiger
    March 9, 2012

    The initiative is goood, but the medical authorities should initiate a drive where men are monitored regularly by their doctors on an annual basis. This one off thing might be giving men a false sense of security in that, they may be given a clean bill of health and forget about their prostate for the next 10 to 15 years.

    To be effecive, men must have the DRE and PSA on an annual basis. In my particular case, because I have a family history of prostate cancer, I do the DRE annually and the PSA every 6 months.

    In addition to these test, they should also encourage people monitor their overall health and not wait until the pain is unbearable before seeing a doctor. I have seen too many of my country men and women die needlessly if only they were more proactive in monitoring their health rather than treating symptoms as they arise.

  2. Anonymous
    March 9, 2012

    To the Dominica Cancer Society,

    Who will be conducting the actual prostate screening? It’s not the medical students but the supervising MD right? Why do I ask? How can you allow students who may not have any clinical exposure/experience to do rectal examination of men? What are they looking for? Have they been trained?

    I hope men are taking note.

    • Tina Alexander
      March 9, 2012

      The Doctor in charge of the whole process is Dr Malaker the honorary consultant oncologist at Ross. He has selected and trained the students and recruited doctors to supervise each one.

    • teacher
      March 9, 2012

      the test will be conducting by three Ross medical doctors with assistance of 3 medical students.
      get screened, early detection saves lives .

  3. Midget
    March 9, 2012

    This is excellent news. I do hope that as many men over 40 will take this opportunity to get these free exams. To the one named Papa Met almost all Prostate Exams includes PSA & BPH along with the RECTAL exam that keeps men from doing a prostate exam. Its so sad that several men refuse to do the exam until it is to late. While we are talking health I was recently advised that in DA land of my birth that if you are over 60 and needs Dialysis you will not be receive Dialysis in DA. Please someone especially from the health Department reading this tell me that this is false information.

    • Papa Met
      March 9, 2012

      Thanks for your pedantic response, but with all due respect, “almost all” does not answer my question.

      The reported stated “The screening activities will include Digital rectal examination along with relevant medical check-ups”

      I was simply asking for clarification on what is meant by “relevant medical check-ups” not speculative assumption.

      • Tina Alexander
        March 9, 2012

        PSA blood tests will NOT be done tomorrow. If there is any need for follow up then the man will be given a referral for his doctor.

        There is an issue regarding people over 60 starting free dialysis. Like Chemotherapy it is very expensive so each case is judged on its merits. The Hospital Services Coordinator can advise further. Until we have a National Health Insurance scheme some treatments will only be guaranteed for those who can pay.

  4. BIG
    March 8, 2012

    Is Ross trying to know who is gay in the school?

  5. zor
    March 8, 2012

    very good initiative

  6. again n again
    March 8, 2012

    bad luck folks.

  7. Papa Met
    March 8, 2012

    @ ADMIN: Besides the “DRE” what are the “relevant medical check-ups” mentioned? Do they include PSA (Prostate specific Antigen) and BPH (Benign prostatic hyperplasia) blood tests?

    Thanks

    • Tina Alexander
      March 9, 2012

      We do not have free blood tests yet. If you have a sponsor then please contact us at the Dominica Cancer Society so that we can provide gift certificates. We would gladly deal with the administration of such a scheme. If you know of someone who has been prescribed a PSA test and cannot afford it please also put them in touch with us. Call Patrick on 767 275 3019

      • Papa Met
        March 9, 2012

        Thanks Tina!!

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