‘Time to start the discussion of prostate cancer’ – founder of Cancer Foundation
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― Guyana’s first Prostate Cancer Foundation launched
DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Guyana’s first Prostate Cancer Foundation was formally launched on April 8 at the Herdmanston Lodge in Queenstown.
In an exclusive interview, founder Dwayne Butters said the organisation’s launch, on his birthday, was significant as it also marked 16 years since his father’s initial diagnosis. Butters explained that for men, particularly those of African descent, they are most likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 40 or after, hence the decision to launch the foundation on his birthday.
Butters noted that there is much stigma attached to prostate cancer, primarily due to the ‘Digital Rectal Examination’, necessary to determine one’s status. “Persons start to panic because of the perceived humiliation of having a prostate examination done.” He added that he wanted to “start the conversation. Recently I’ve built a very strong relationship with my father so I’m using this platform and I’m using his experience and his journey as the ideal opportunity for us (males) to start taking stock and it’s about men’s health in general.”
November will mark the start of a month of activities to raise prostate cancer awareness. Interested persons can contact Dwayne Butters on telephone numbers (Guyana) 592-687-6911 or (Canada) 647-901-4884.
The foundation is partnering with the Ministry of Public Health, Men’s Health Department whose Coordinator, Dr. Dennis Bassier was in attendance at the launch.
Butter’s message to all men is to seek information about their health before it’s too late, “Two out of seven men are likely to be diagnosed and if you’re of African descent, it doubles the risk.”
Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed and the leading cause of related deaths in men. James Courtney Butters resides in Atlanta, USA. A true survivor, he was also treated for colon cancer in 2015 and fitted with a ‘pacemaker’ in 2018.
A moment of silence was observed for a relative, former Chief Executive Officer of Global Seafood Distributors, Allison Butters-Grant who succumbed to cancer on January 13.
Paul Mc Adam.
Images: Tejpaul Bridgemohan.