Prostate Cancer in The Bahamas

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• Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of death among Bahamian men.  However, early detection could mean the difference between life and death.

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• Black men are far more likely than white men to get prostate cancer.

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• In the US the average age for diagnosis is 62 whilst in The Bahamas the average age of diagnosis is 52.

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• The disease is far more aggressive in black males and will usually spread to other areas of the body much quicker.

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• Your father having prostate cancer makes you twice as likely to get it. Your father and brother make you three times as likely and your father brother and uncles make you four times as likely to get the disease.

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• Prostate cancer is thought to be caused by the same Brca2 gene which causes breast cancer.  This means that if women in your family have breast cancer you are more likely to get prostate cancer.

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• Many doctors now use the PSA - prostate specific antigen - blood test as the primary tool to diagnose the likelihood that you will have prostate cancer. This makes the digital rectal examination unnecessary for most routine screening.  It is important to get tested every year however.

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• Your doctor should begin to test you for the disease when you turn 45. Though earlier testing is recommended where a family history exist.