Annual Prostate Screening a Success

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You & Your Family

Monday, 20 August 2012 02:30

By Everton Barnes

Antigua St. John’s - The annual prostate cancer screening organised by the Lion’s Club has been deemed a success with just under 700 men attending on Saturday.

Head of the medical team involved in the exercise Dr Dwayne Thwaites said the effort, in its fifth year of operation, has been very successful as the number of men having the test surpassed the 600 target.

“We are happy to report that we have been successful in raising the level of awareness among men to an appreciable level and that we are also seeing more younger men coming forward to test for prostate cancer,” Dr. Thwaites said.

He added that the organising of the event is also getting better.

“The one-day clinic now operates as a well-oiled machine as we have been able to reduce to time spent per patient for the entire exercise,” he noted.

Dr Thwaites, an Antiguan urologist with practices in the United States and in the Caribbean, has been the driving force behind the annual prostate cancer clinic. He has also been able to secure the assistance of other urologists from the United States to assist with the programme. These include Dr Brian Cohen, who is making the trip for a fourth year, Dr Tasha Cooke, for a second year, and Dr Daniel Caruso, who is attending for the first time.

A number of locally based entities also provide valuable assistance to the programme. Lab technicians from the Mount St John’s Medical Centre assist with taking blood samples for PSA tests, while the actual testing will be provided by Bio Health Medical laboratory. Students from the American University of Antigua also volunteer for the programme.

Several local businesses also contribute to the success of the venture to help offset the expenses.

A spokesman for the Lion’s Club said the clinic is just one of several medical interventions that the Club organises annually.

Other events planned are a breast cancer screening in October as well as the continued eye clinic at the Greenbay Primary School.

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