Prostate cancer deaths top 300 annually as screening declines

A sharp decline in prostate cancer screening in Barbados is raising alarm among health officials, as the disease continues to claim more than 300 lives each year despite being highly treatable when detected early, the Barbados Cancer Society (BCS) has said.

As the BCS launched the 4th Annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Walk at the Jada Group of Companies complex in St Peter, its president, Professor David Rosin, revealed that while medical advancements are progressing, the number of men coming forward for testing has dropped.

This trend is particularly dangerous for men of African descent in the Caribbean, who face the highest risk of mortality from the disease globally, he added.

“In Barbados, prostate cancer accounts for the greatest number—more than 300 deaths every year,” Professor Rosin said. “Yet this is one of the five cancers that people should not die from if it is diagnosed early. We can change this by regular screening.”

Professor Rosin highlighted a stark disparity in global health outcomes, noting that while Australia has the highest incidence of the disease, it maintains a low death rate due to widespread screening. Conversely, Caribbean men rank sixth for incidence but have the highest death rate in the world.

“Men of African descent in Barbados are twice as likely to have prostate cancer than men in the United States, and even more worrying, they are six times more likely to die from this disease.”

The BCS is advocating for a new screening protocol to improve accuracy and reduce unnecessary invasive procedures. While the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test remains the standard first step, Professor Rosin pointed out that it often produces false positives due to non-cancerous conditions like an enlarged prostate or infection.

To combat this, the cancer society is utilising a specialised genetic blood test, which analyses DNA and RNA. A trial of 565 men showed the gene test had a 92 pert cent specificity rate compared to 83 per cent for the PSA test.

“The gene test was significantly more accurate for detecting prostate cancer and picking up men with the cancer gene without any symptoms or signs,” Professor Rosin explained. “Too many patients get treated and investigated when it’s not actually cancer, even though the PSA test might be raised.”

Beyond screening, the medical chief pointed to significant technological gaps in the local healthcare system. Currently, Barbados lacks parametric MRIs and robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery. He noted that early diagnosis is the only way for patients to access less invasive treatments such as High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), which are currently limited by late-stage detection.

Addressing the cultural hurdles, Professor Rosin suggested that a shift in mindset is required, comparing the situation to the high engagement seen in breast cancer awareness.

“I have been known to say that men are wimps because they don’t like to show any weakness, whereas women come forward much more commonly,” he said. “The best thing that could be done is for the ladies to tell their gentlemen that they really need to come forward.”

“The most important message is come forward and be screened. Do not leave it until it may be too late.”

The launch also featured a virtual contribution from Dr Jonathan Noel, a Barbadian consultant urological and robotic prostate surgeon at Guy’s Hospital in London. He highlighted the stark reality facing the region.

“Prostate cancer death rates in the Caribbean are double those of other developed countries,” Dr Noel warned. “It’s a staggering figure we should all be alarmed by. We shouldn’t be reactive when we have symptoms; we should be screened before symptoms develop.”

He noted that technology, such as robotic surgery, is making recovery faster than ever, often allowing patients to return home the very next day. But he stressed that technology only works if men show up.

The cancer society is calling on the public to support the upcoming “Strength in Every Step” walk and run, scheduled for Sunday, June 28.

(RR)