We cater to both sexes, says Jamaica Cancer Society
‘Over 300 communities still underserved’
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of the Jamaica Cancer Society Yulit Gordon, said that she would like to see a change in the perception that their organisation caters only to women.
Gordon, who was speaking at the Gleaner Editors’ Forum last Wednesday, said that the reason for that perception could be that women are more proactive when it comes to safeguarding their health and the well-being of their families.
“If you look at Breast Cancer Awareness Month, there is a heavy traffic in and out of our community outreach programmes, as well as our fixed programmes. Everybody gets involved. Then, Cervical Cancer Month comes around, and again, there is a high uptake of participation of our activities. When it comes to Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, this is where we are focusing on the men. We are going across with the same fervent attention across the island with a lot of outreach and a lot of presentation, but you don’t see a lot of men participating,” said Gordon.
MEN AVOID SCREENING
Generally, men do not like to visit the doctor, but cancer affects both men and women, and by extension, the entire family, Gordon said.
She added that during Cancer Awareness Month, only about 700 men will show up for screening.
“Widespread screening for prostate cancer has the potential to reduce the burden of metastatic disease and significantly reduce the mortality of the disease. Recently, the relevance of prostate cancer screening has been questioned. However, the importance and relevance is undeniable in highrisk individuals, namely those men of African ethnicity and those having a strong family history of the disease,” said Gordon.
She pointed out that prostate cancer, if detected at an early stage, can be cured and recommends annual screening starting at age 40.
“The Jamaica Cancer Society appeals to Jamaican males to make healthy lifestyle choices by consuming a diet low in fat and increasing the intake of fruits and vegetables, exercising regularly, and getting their annual checks done,” said Gordon.
Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Jamaica. Women are being encouraged to accompany their spouses to the clinics to provide support.
POINTING TO more than 300 communities in Jamaica that are currently underserved and have limited access to cancer care, Yulit Gordon, executive director of the Jamaica Cancer Society, said cost remains a barrier to both patients and agencies that administer treatment.
Speaking to journalists at an Editors’ Forum held at The Gleaner’s offices in downtown Kingston, Gordon admitted that the urban versus rural disparity is still wide. As such, she indicated that the society is always seeking funding to make sure that the subsidised services that are offered remain sustained.
“There are almost 700 communities across the island. We have access to about 200 or 250 a year, so there is still a significant [number] of underserved communities that We need to reach,” she declared.
ALWAYS SEEKING SUPPORT
“We are always seeking support to do what we do, but it comes with a cost. When we look at the cost to go out there, we are talking about clinical supplies that we don’t manufacture locally. They are expensive. It is a significant cost to the Jamaica Cancer Society to reach those underserved communities out there to provide the services to persons who are at risk,” she continued.
She said that they continue to depend on outreach groups, churches, schools and other stakeholders to partner with them to find ways of creating equal access for all citizens.
“Even our forums, which are free of cost, it is still a challenge for some persons, based on where they live, to get there. They will have to take transportation to come to where we are hosting some of these symposiums or clinics. We have worked our way into some of these underserved communities and have taken our messages, as well as screening and counselling. However, persons in the urban districts will have access to most resources that are necessary,” she said.
“Even at the Cancer Society, our services are highly subsidised, but even at the highly subsidised, rate, it is prohibitive for many persons. We are always fundraising and begging, or we are seeking grant funding from formal organisations to help remove the barrier of cost.”