Prostate checks: what Jamaican men should know
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among Jamaican men. It is also one of the most treatable when found early.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Jamaican men and the one that kills the most. Men of African descent get it more often and at younger ages. In its early stages it usually causes no symptoms at all, which is why checks matter.
What a check involves
Neither test is perfect on its own, so doctors usually do both. If either is abnormal, the next step may be an MRI scan or a biopsy.
- A PSA test: a blood test that measures a protein made by the prostate. A raised level can mean cancer, but it can also mean an enlarged or inflamed prostate.
- A physical examination: the doctor feels the prostate with a gloved finger. It takes less than a minute.
When to start
Doctors in Jamaica generally advise men to begin talking about screening at 40, and earlier if a father or brother has had prostate cancer. Your doctor will help you decide how often to test.
Symptoms worth reporting
Most urinary symptoms turn out to be an enlarged prostate, which is common with age and treatable. They still need to be checked.
- A weak flow, or difficulty starting to pass urine
- Getting up often at night to pass urine
- Blood in the urine or semen
- Pain in the lower back, hips or pelvis that doesn’t go away
If cancer is found
Treatment depends on how early it is caught. Some slow-growing cancers are simply watched. Others are treated with surgery, radiotherapy or hormone treatment. Keyhole surgery, including robot-assisted surgery, aims to remove the prostate through small incisions while protecting the nerves around it.