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Prostate & testicular cancers on the rise- BVI Cancer Society

Prostate and testicular cancers are on the rise, says the BVI Cancer Society. Photo: Internet Source
Members of the BVI Cancer Society visited the New Testament Church of God International Worship Centre in Baughers Bay on Sunday October 2, 2016. Photo: VINO
Members of the BVI Cancer Society visited the New Testament Church of God International Worship Centre in Baughers Bay on Sunday October 2, 2016. Photo: VINO
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI – Men were on Sunday October 2, 2016 challenged to get their prostates checked to ensure they are cancer free and were further told that money is available to get them necessary help if tested positive.

This appeal was made by President of the BVI Cancer Society Ms Gloria A. Fahie, who was accompanied by several other members at the Sunday morning church service at the New Testament Church of God International Worship Centre in Baughers Bay.

It is customary that the society attends the church of one of their members whenever October, ‘Breast Cancer Awareness Month’, comes around.

While speaking to the prevalence of breast and other forms of cancers, Ms Fahie zeroed in on what some see as a very taboo topic for men.

“We do not discriminate any individual who has cancer, we are talking about breast cancer mainly for the women but men too have breast cancers. But I want to say to the men now, prostate cancer and testicular cancer are also on the rise,” said Ms Fahie.

Don’t suffer in silence

Cancer survivor Ms Fahie challenged men to not to suffer in silence. “There is a group called Movember. Every November they raise a lot of funds to help you guys. If anyone is in here suffering from those two cancers, please get in contact with me because there is a lot of funds available for you guys. Do not make it a taboo subject, don’t do that, if you need help we are here to help you.”

A special offering was done to present to the society, something the congregation did with an open heart. Ms Fahie said though that other churches also gave in the past but not in that manner. “We are very happy for what they did and the manner in which the church members gave.”

Stats on testicular cancer

The American Cancer Society’s estimates for testicular cancer in the United States for 2016 are about 8,720 new cases of testicular cancer will be diagnosed. About 380 men will die of testicular cancer.

The incidence rate of testicular cancer has been increasing in the United States and many other countries for several decades. The increase is mostly in seminomas. Experts have not been able to find reasons for this increase. Lately, the rate of increase has slowed.

Testicular cancer is not common; about 1 of every 263 males will develop testicular cancer at some point during his life.

The average age at the time of diagnosis of testicular cancer is about 33. This is largely a disease of young and middle-aged men, but about 7% of cases occur in children and teens, and about 7% occur in men over the age of 55.

Because testicular cancer usually can be treated successfully, a man’s lifetime risk of dying from this cancer is very low: about 1 in 5,000.

19 Responses to “Prostate & testicular cancers on the rise- BVI Cancer Society”

  • Really? (04/10/2016, 10:59) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    These numbers need to be put into perspective. For one, better diagnostic methods today mean more cancers may be detected than before, so greater incidence today does not necessarily mean incidence is on the rise. Secondly, American Cancer Society (ACS) data also shows that some 2.3 million cases of cancer are diagnosed annually in the US, so new cases of testicular cancer represent 0.4% of all new cancers diagnosed in the US. Equally, ACS reports some 232,000 new cases of breast cancer in women (more than total new lung cancers, which are split about evenly by gender) and 2,300 in men, so about 10% of new cancers are breast cancer in women, and 0.1% in men. If we were to assume similar incidences in the BVI, we could expect about 270 new cases of cancer annually in the BVIs. Of these about 27 would be breast cancer in women and about 1 would be testicular cancer. To me that says greatest focus should be on breast cancer in women, although awareness of testicular and breast cancer in men is relevant though a much smaller risk.
  • ta ta (04/10/2016, 11:15) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    good piece
  • nonsense (04/10/2016, 12:33) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    The cancer rates must go up if they're poisoning the population daily. All the body products, food, medicine, it's all poison and killing off our bodies slowly but surely. It's all about money and nothing to do with health.
  • E. Leonard (04/10/2016, 13:05) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    The taboo related to men not getting tested and examined, especially the digital rectal examination(DRE), for testicular and prostrate cancer is a false sense of security. The process may make many feel uncomfortable but the benefits outweigh the cost by a long shot-----delayed diagnosis of cancer. Preventative medicine is the key to monitoring, early detecting and treating of testicular and prostrate cancer. Regular check ups/ testing allows physicians and other medical professionals to establish a baseline for identifying and monitoring the incidence and growth of these cancers. Regular check ups and monitoring is a better option than being told by a physician, "why you waited so long"? Would not a DRE have been a better choice, taboo aside, than those five dreaded words?

    Testicular and prostrate cancers are both very highly treatable if detected early. Let's not let taboo takes us way too soon. Lost a friend in 1994 for testicular cancer; he waited too long to get tested. Testing and being examined is a private encounter between you and your physician. Get tested at least once a year or more frequently as needed.
    • Yes (04/10/2016, 14:35) Like (0) Dislike (7) Reply
      "especially the digital rectal examination(DRE), for testicular and prostrate cancer"

      Your testes are not in your rectum so the DRE won't help with checking either your testes or your "Prostrate". It is quite effective though in checking your prostate gland.

      Prostrate: lying stretched out on the ground with one's face downwards.
      Prostate: The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located between the bladder and the penis

      Pretty much agree with testing and early detection though
      • Grammar PoPo (04/10/2016, 17:33) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
        @Lol, if you had read the sentence closer, it would clearly show that "especially the digital rectal examination" refers to the preceding word "examined," not testicular. Further, clearly, prostrate was an apparent and inadvertent misspelling for prostate, for the blogger's comment is not littered with other misspellings. I think I'm a good speller but at times, I'm guilty of making misspellings, thinking of one word and typing another closely related work. And closer examination of my comment may find misspellings and poor grammar mechanics. Nonetheless, to me and hopefully others, the issue is not about spelling and grammar but rather about getting tested early and regularly. Moreover, if a misspelling results in our getting tested, then that is a valuable service that is priceless.
      • E. Leonard (04/10/2016, 20:47) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
        @Lol, thanks for pointing out the mistake. No doubt, prostate, not prostrate, was the correct word choice.
  • DEAD MAN WALKING (04/10/2016, 13:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    cancel is not kind to we
  • Dan (04/10/2016, 13:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

    @$#!& the fda

  • Boo (04/10/2016, 13:42) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Men check your balls regularly and ask your doctor to check your prostate annually if you are over 45
  • So true (04/10/2016, 18:58) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply
    I had to drag my husband to have his prostate check. He is one of those men that felt ashamed to have any Doctor do a rectal exam on him. I was like if you don't have the exam done, I was going to leave him. He had it done and he is fine. You men have to stop the nonsense about no Doctor is touching you back there. We women have GYN check ups and we feel uncomfortable but, we go ahead and get it over with.
  • Music (04/10/2016, 20:47) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Dont they know about the free prostate screening done by the Red Cross, Rotary, and volunteers, every year. Upwards of 1000 men attend every year so I would say men are pretty well aware of it.
  • Jill (04/10/2016, 22:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    It would be good if we had some local statistics.
  • Poorwesah! (06/10/2016, 09:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The men them must stop going behind so much frock-tails. My grandfather used to say be careful, not all of them cat is good 'pussy cat.' Too much dregs going up in that little hole and settling in there. Let the doctor check behind there quickly before it too late, brothers.
  • ballpulling (09/10/2016, 20:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    spanish please take time when gagling the balls
  • rollballs (09/10/2016, 20:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    spanish please take ur time to bite on the balls


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