BROCODE launches men’s health campaign to raise awareness of prostate cancer

Apr 22, 2025 News

Kaieteur News- The Brotherhood, Community and Development in Men’s Health, Inc. (BROCODE) on Monday launched a prostate cancer awareness campaign at the Guyana Red Cross Society, aimed at encouraging men to get regular health checks and understand the risks of prostate cancer.

BROCODE launches men’s health campaign to raise awareness of prostate cancer

Two men who attended the launch

The campaign was funded by the United States Department of State, which allocated US$28,000 for outreach and sensitization. The programme’s goal is to educate at least 300 men on the importance of early detection, new treatment methods, and routine medical check-ups.

BROCODE coordinator Enrico Woolford spoke with Kaieteur News, stressing the need for men to put their health first. “The programme is designed to ensure that men check that part of their body. You know, particularly the prostate is part of the reproductive system and it helps men to do their procreation and if not recreation,” Woolford said.

Woolford also highlighted a major obstacle—the cultural stigma surrounding prostate exams. “Now, as you get older, the prostate enlarges and it can become cancer and that is a major danger. So they got to check,” he urged. “They tend to let pride and masculinity and sexuality go before their health.”

He stressed that just as women regularly visit gynecologists, men should routinely see urologists. Dr. Melissa Barwyk of Georgetown American University’s clinic also spoke at the event. She explained that prostate health monitoring usually starts with a PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) test, especially for men over 50.

“The most important test you want to explore right now is the PSA test. Once the PSA is over four, you should get checked. If it’s 10 or more, you need to see a urologist immediately,” Dr. Barwyk explained. She clarified that prostate enlargement, or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), is common as men age but can sometimes lead to cancer. “You can have benign lumps, which don’t spread. But when the cancer spreads outside the prostate, that’s when you need to act fast,” she said.

She also highlighted new treatments, including advanced hydro-technology, which can reduce prostate size and prevent cancer from developing. “There’s a lot of new technology — the key is to catch the problem early. If you treat it at the BPH stage, you can avoid cancer later on,” Dr. Barwyk advised.

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