KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaican men are being urged to begin prostate cancer screening from age 40 as health officials raise concern about the number of deaths linked to the disease.
Government Senator Dr Elon Thompson made the appeal during Wednesday’s post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, as the country observes Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
He said prostate cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among Jamaican men, with the age-adjusted mortality rate rising from about 35 deaths per 100,000 males in 1996 to 46 per 100,000 in 2023.
Dr Thompson said 716 men died from the disease in 2023, while 809 deaths were recorded in 2024. Nearly 1,400 new cases were also reported.
He warned that prostate cancer can develop without obvious symptoms in its early stages and said men should not wait until they feel unwell before seeking medical attention.
The senator also pointed to low screening rates identified in the latest Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey. Only about 28 per cent of men aged 40 and older reported ever having a digital rectal examination.
Just 5.1 per cent said they had been referred by a healthcare professional for a prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, test, while fewer than two per cent reported actually having the test.
Dr Thompson said fear, embarrassment and misinformation remain major barriers to screening and called for a shift in attitudes towards men’s health.
He also encouraged relatives and friends to play a greater role in urging men to see a doctor, noting that family support can often make the difference.
