Submitted by Due Diligence (Prostate Cancer Survivor)

“Call for prostate cancer test cut … the incidence of prostate cancer in Barbados is so high that the Queen Elizabeth Hospital is preparing to submit a recommendation for a 50 per cent cut in the cost of the examination used to detect the disease. According to QEH director Dr Dexter James, the country has the second highest rate of prostate cancer in the world per capita, and, in terms of mortality, the island was ranked number one. Every year, 100 men die from the disease in Barbados” – Barbados Today

I have been reading in the media up hey in de Great White North, about US and Canadian studies advising against using the PSA test. This morning, while sitting in the waiting area for a regular follow-up meeting with my oncologist, I read an article in the National Post about a recent study by Dr. Neil Fleshner, one of the leading urologists in Canada, or indeed in the world, which argues that PSA testing should continue – See: Ludicrous’ advice against prostate cancer screening could cause needless deaths: study

By the way, I also had a PSA blood test and the wait time at one of the largest and highly regarded hospitals in Toronto, was about 15 minutes.   I would like to share this personal experience as a Prostate Cancer Survivor.

About 5 years ago, as part of my regular annual check-up, I had a PSA blood test which indicated that I might have Prostate Cancer.  That was followed two weeks later with my having a a biopsy performed on my prostate gland, which disclosed that I had high-grade prostate cancer. I was referred to a leading urologist/oncologist who has extensive expertise in uro-oncology and cancer genetics, who saw me in about two weeks.

Upon his recommendation I was immediately scheduled for surgery,  referred to as “radical prostatectomy”, to have the cancerous prostate gland removed. I had the surgery performed within another two weeks, and spent about three days in the hospital before returning to home. My cancer was very advanced and required follow-up non-surgical treatment; but here I am still alive and functioning normally.

Without that PSA test that threw up the red flags, I have no doubt that I would not have still been around to enjoy the two weeks I had in Barbados in November.

My message to the BU family members is: If you do not want to be one of 100 men who die from Prostate Cancer in Barbados every year, arrange to have a PSA test NOW. QEH director Dr Dexter James, says Barbados is ranked number one in terms of mortality rate from Prostate Cancer. Being ranked number one is a good thing in many areas like tourism NOT in Prostate Cancer mortality rate.

My humble advice to Minister of Health John Boyce is to immediately approve the 50% reduction in the cost of PSA blood tests recommended by Dr. James period; not just during November.