OVER 400 MEN RESPOND TO CANCER SCREENING PROGRAMME
Hundreds of men took advantage of the opportunity this past weekend to get a free screening for prostate cancer. The screening was conducted by visiting Urologist and Prostate Cancer Specialist Dr. Robert Yakely from Denver Colorado USA, along with local medical personnel, through a programme sponsored by the BVI Red Cross and the Social Security Board.
It was the third annual Prostate Cancer Screening and was held at the Red Cross Headquarters on Tortola on Friday and Saturday January 19th and 20th. The Virgin Gorda Lions Club is organizing the Virgin Gorda leg of the programme for this Saturday January 27th at the Nurse Iris O’Neal Clinic. The service was made available to all men in this age group who are not yet under urologist treatment. Dr. Yakely lives in the BVI six months out of the year on his boat “Livin Dream” and through the Red Cross, initiated this cancer-screening programme three years ago on a voluntary basis. Only 50 men were screened the first year, but last year saw a sharp increase to over 350. There was also an overwhelming response to the programme this year, with some 457 men being screened on Tortola.
Prostate cancer is the leading cause of death among men over 40 years. This is a disease of the prostate where cancer begins in the gland itself and if it’s caught early enough and localized, can be cured. “But prostate cancer, like all cancers, has a tendency to spread to other parts of the body and it’s only when it spreads…that it can result in the death of the patient,” Dr. Yakely explained in a GIS Radio Report. A number of volunteers from the Red Cross and various service organizations were on hand to assist with the process. The men wishing to be screened were required to fill out a contact information form. Then, they have a blood sample or PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) drawn by local medical personnel, which is used to help detect early stages of prostate cancer. If the test shows an elevated level of psa’s, then this is considered an early warning sign for cancer. “After the blood test is drawn, then I carry out a rectal examination, where I feel the prostate by inserting my finger into the area of the prostate and very quickly, frankly less than 10 seconds, I can examine a prostate and tell you if I feel a problem,” stated the urologist. He said he looks for lumps, nodules or masses.
According to the Prostate Cancer Specialist, results can be returned in about one week if done through the laboratory at Peebles Hospital. For persons with elevated levels, they are asked to seek local medical care. Prior to the first screening, patients were forced to go off to St. Thomas or Puerto Rico to get a biopsy of the prostate if an abnormal result was detected. Now, Drs. Heskith Vanterpool and Dante Davies are now trained in this area of specialty and men who have an abnormality can simply see either of these two medical professionals.
Dr. Yakely underscored the importance of men getting screened annually for prostate cancer. He said besides screening, there are no early systems of prostate cancer. “By the time patients have systems of prostate cancer, it’s too late to cure them; so the only way to be cured from prostate cancer is to come in long before, years before you have any symptoms.” He said the good news is that prostate cancer is very slow growing. But the bad news is that it doesn’t give any warning until it’s too late. There is also nothing men can do to reduce their risk.
In the United States, there are about 30,000 deaths per year
from prostate cancer, which is also the second leading numeric
cause of cancer. However, not every one who develops prostate
cancer dies of it. “Early detection is the only way that
we can find prostate cancer at an early stage where it’s
still curable,” he reiterated.
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