Feeling well is not a measure of good health – Dr Elon Thompson

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Government Senator and consultant urologist Dr Elon Thompson, is urging men to take greater responsibility for their health, while warning that feeling well is not a measure of good health. “Feeling well does not tell you your blood pressure. Feeling well does not tell you your blood sugar, and it certainly doesn't tell you what your prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is,” Dr Thompson stated. He was delivering remarks in observance of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, during Friday’s  sitting of the Senate at Gordon House. Dr Thompson noted that prostate cancer remains a major threat to Jamaican men, with data showing that the age-adjusted prostate cancer mortality rate has increased from 35 deaths per 100,000 males in 1996 to 46 per 100,000 in 2023. “In 2023, 716 Jamaican men died from prostate cancer. As if that were not bad enough, in 2024, 809 men died from prostate cancer... .  That is more than two Jamaican men dying from prostate cancer on average every day in 2024,” he detailed. While he reiterated the importance of personal responsibility to address the issue, the senator noted that healthcare professionals must also play an active role. “If a man is 40 or older, and comes to us as physicians for hypertension, diabetes, a prescription refill or any unrelated complaint that they may have, it is an opportunity to ask them about their prostate health and whether he has discussed screening with a healthcare professional,” Dr Thompson detailed. The senator said health professionals should deliberately be identifying eligible men and discussing prostate cancer screening in keeping with the national guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Wellness. “We should also remind Jamaican men that support is available and through the National Health Fund (NHF), men aged 40 years and older with an NHF card can access a subsidised PSA test and for men enrolled with the NHF for prostate cancer, the benefit has been expanded to allow up to four PSA tests annually where closer monitoring is required,” he said. Senator Thompson noted that while screening is important, the pathway from an abnormal result to investigation, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up must also be strengthened. “This is where I hope initiatives such as the Blue Stop Series can make a lasting contribution,” he stated. Under the slogan: ‘Stop, Check, Act. Man, Your Health Matters,’ the Series places focus on men’s health and prostate cancer awareness. “The language is simple, but the concept is powerful. Stop long enough to think about your health, check what is happening in your body and act on the information you receive,” Dr Thompson stressed. The senator emphasised that Jamaica must build a culture in which men begin checking their health routinely, rather than waiting for illness to force them into the healthcare system. He urged men to check their blood pressure and blood sugar levels, know their family history, understand their prostate cancer risk and speak with their healthcare provider about screening. “Taking care of your health is not simply about adding years to life. It is about giving yourself the best opportunity to remain present for the people who depend upon you,” Dr Thompson added. His message was supported by Opposition Senator, Dr Floyd Morris, who noted that myths associated with prostate cancer have contributed to men not wanting to undertake testing. He pointed out that the science around testing has improved significantly and “that allows for our men to get tested without the myths that are associated”. Screening can be undertaken through a simple blood test that measures protein levels produced by the prostate gland. Senator Morris added that men must make sure that annual testing becomes a part of the regime. –       JIS