The original article can be found in: Antigua Observer By Kyle Christian
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Men with one of the risk factors for prostate cancer should opt for a full digital rectal exam and not just PSA blood tests.
According to Urologist Dwayne “Baba” Thwaites, this is so because PSA blood tests are sometimes inconclusive.
“What the data was showing last year was, we saw a lot of people with normal PSAs who had an abnormal digital rectal exam. That’s why we have to do both,” the specialist said.
“A lot of men prefer to just go, ‘can I just get the blood draw?’ and not man up about this thing.”
Prostate-specific antigen or PSA is present in small quantities in the blood of men with healthy prostates, but is often elevated with the presence of prostate cancer.
“So far, we found maybe two or three clusters of family members in Antigua with four or five uncles, brothers who have prostate cancer,” Dr Thwaites said.
“So we see the familial link and the genetics of prostate cancer increases the risk factor tremendously, probably four or five times.”
He said men of African descent and those who have a strong family history of prostate cancer should be evaluated earlier in life.
“So instead of waiting until 40, you can do it at 35,” the urologist said.
The digital rectal exam sees the doctor or nurse inserting a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum to feel the prostate through the rectal wall for lumps or abnormal areas.
