Lacroes urges men to discuss prostate cancer screening with doctors

MP Francisco A. Lacroes urged men to discuss prostate cancer screening with their doctors, The People's Tribune reported. Lacroes said men should learn their family medical history and speak with a healthcare professional about their individual risk and available screening options.

The People's Tribune reported that GLOBOCAN 2022 estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer put new prostate cancer cases among Caribbean men at 22,271, or about 35% of all new cancer cases among men in the region. The report said prostate cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Caribbean men.

Lacroes said fear, embarrassment and misconceptions about prostate examinations can prevent men from raising prostate health with a doctor. He said a discussion may include a prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, blood test. The People's Tribune reported that an elevated PSA result does not diagnose prostate cancer on its own, but can help a doctor decide whether further evaluation is needed.

Lacroes also encouraged families to discuss prostate cancer history. He said having a father, brother or other close relative with prostate cancer can increase a man's risk, particularly where relatives were diagnosed younger. He said screening is a personal healthcare decision that should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional.