BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A clarion call is being made for more men and women to have frequent checkups when it comes to their health in the areas of prostate and cervical cancers.
This call was made yesterday (Dec. 5) by Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Patrick Martin, who told SKNVibes that even though many women do take pap tests, which is important if one is sexually active, he is not satisfied with the amount.
Dr. Martin explained that in most cases cervical cancer is caused by a sexually transmitted disease called human papillomavirus or HPV. He is pleading to all women to have frequent checkups by visiting the nearest health center or their personal physician, because HPV is a treatable and preventable disease.
“This is a preventable and treatable disease if it’s caught early, but also we stress abstinence,” Dr. Martin said.
He added that women should be more health conscious, especially when it is known that cervical and breast cancers are the two top cancers leading to women’s death worldwide.
“I reiterate that the pap test is free and not painful and the frequency is based on the history of the checkup by the doctor or nurse,” he said.
The CMO noted that some “women find it difficult to translate knowledge to action when it comes to cervical cancer”, and that he was concerned about those women whose actions are being controlled by their sexual partners.
“I’m concerned for women who do not have control over their action because they are in relationship with men who have all the control and power in the relationship and want sex frequently.”
He however informed that currently in the Federation there is no vaccine available for HPV or cervical cancer but it will be coming soon.
Meanwhile, Dr. Martin threw out a challenge to men, who would think that they could not be ‘hit’ by cancer, to be screened and increase the frequency in which they are having checkups.
“More men are getting checkups but not as many as we would like to see,” he added.
To this end, he noted that men could have test carried out in two ways - through a blood test or a rectal test - which he attested is very affordable and currently available in the Federation.
Dr. Martin said that scientists have found that there is Lycopene in certain fruits that helps to protect prostate health. He noted that it could be found in “tomatoes, guava, pineapple and grapefruit, amounts others”.
The CMO was pleased to note that the Ministry of Health is continuing to spread its sensitisation programmes in relation to prostate health in St. Kitts and Nevis, to which they have seen many respondents making special efforts to attend.
