Jamaican men urged to get screened for prostate cancer from age 40

Jamaican men are being urged to prioritise their health by getting screened for prostate cancer from age 40, amid concerns about the increasing number of deaths from the disease. 

The call was made by Government Senator, Dr Elon Thompson, during a post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday (September 23), at Jamaica House, as Jamaica observes Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.  

Thompson noted that prostate cancer remains a leading cause of  cancer deaths among Jamaican men. 

“Data that is presented shows that the age-adjusted death rate increases from approximately 35 deaths per 100,000 males in 1996 to 46 per 100,000 in 2023,” he said. 

He noted that 716 Jamaican men died from prostate cancer in 2023, while 809 deaths were recorded in 2024, with almost 1,400 new cases reported. 

“These are not just statistics. They represent fathers, husbands, brothers, sons, and friends whose deaths have left families without people they loved and depended on,” he said. 

Thompson pointed out that prostate cancer can develop without obvious symptoms during its early stages and warned men against relying on how they feel to determine whether they should seek medical attention. 

“A man can feel strong, continue working, have no urinary difficulties, and believe that he's perfectly healthy, while the disease is developing,” he said, highlighting that “waiting until symptoms appear is not an effective health strategy.”  

He said the findings from the last Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey highlight the need for greater attention to prostate cancer screening, noting that only about 28 per cent of Jamaican men aged 40 years and older reported ever having a digital rectal examination. 

He further noted that only 5.1 per cent reported being referred by a healthcare professional for a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, while 1.9 per cent reported actually having the test. 

“These numbers should cause us to examine not only prostate cancer services but also the way Jamaican men approach their health,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Thompson attributed the low screening rates to factors including fear, embarrassment and misinformation, and called for a change in the culture surrounding men’s health. 

“There is nothing masculine about neglecting your health, and there is nothing courageous about avoiding an examination because you're embarrassed or afraid,” he said. 

He also encouraged families to play a greater role in motivating men to seek medical attention. “Sometimes a person who gets a man through the doctor's door will not be another doctor. It may be a wife, a partner, a daughter, son, brother, or a friend,” he said.  

Thompson emphasised that healthcare professionals also have a responsibility to initiate conversations about prostate cancer during routine visits. 

“Every appropriate encounter with a male patient should, therefore, be viewed as an opportunity to consider whether his prostate health and screening status have been addressed,” he said. 

Additionally, he also highlighted support available through the National Health Fund (NHF), noting that men aged 40 years and older with an NHF card can access subsidised PSA testing. 

He said men enrolled with the NHF for prostate cancer can access up to four PSA tests annually, to support closer monitoring following diagnosis. 

According to Dr. Thompson, NHF subsidies for prostate cancer treatment medications surpassed $1 billion during the current fiscal year, benefiting approximately 4,860 men, with average savings of about $260,000 per patient. 

He commended the NHF for its efforts in supporting persons affected by prostate cancer. 

Thompson said the focus of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month should extend beyond awareness activities to encouraging lasting changes in health-seeking behaviour. 

“This September, I do not want Prostate Cancer Awareness Month to be remembered simply because we wore blue ribbons, held events, and spoke about prostate cancer. I want it to contribute to a change in behaviour,” he said. 

He urged men to know their family history, understand their risk and discuss screening with their healthcare providers. 

“Do not wait for symptoms or until the disease has taken away choices that earlier detection might have given to you. Speak with your healthcare provider, get screened, know your PSA, know your risk, and remember that this starts at age 40,” he said. 

“Jamaican men, it is time for us to change the way we treat our health. Get checked, give yourself the best opportunity to be there for the people who love and depend on you,” he continued. 

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