Public Forum to Raise Awareness about Prostate Cancer

The Jamaica Cancer Society (JSC), as part of activities to mark Prostate Cancer Awareness Week, will be hosting a public forum at the Jamaica Conference Centre downtown Kingston on Sunday, March 13.
Marva Lee, Administrative Director at the JCS, told JIS News that the event, which gets underway at 10:00 a.m., will see presentations from several “high profile specialists” such as Professor Lawson Douglas, Dr. Shawn Jones, Dr. Vendryes Greaves, Dr. Robert Wan and Dr. Hope Russell.
She is encouraging Jamaican men to come out and support the event. “I hope men will come out and give their support,” she urged.
Prostate Cancer Awareness Week is being observed from March 7-13 and according to Mrs. Lee, activities were going well, with fliers and posters being distributed to bring awareness about the diseases and practices that could reduce its occurrence, while urologists doing several media interviews.
The highlight of the week will be a fundraising dinner and dance on Friday, March 11 at the Hilton Kingston Hotel.
Mrs. Lee noted that the activities, which were being held under the theme ‘Get Checked’ were designed to encourage men to get tested for prostate cancer and to bring awareness about the disease. “We aim to breakdown the stigma and embarrassment that are often associated with prostate cancer,” Mrs. Lee noted.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Jamaican men and the leading cause of cancer-related death among men in Jamaica. It is nearly 100 per cent survivable if detected early.