Tennis For Hope funds PSA/FBS tests for 60 men

Sixty men from across St Vincent and the Grenadines, over the age of 40 years, have been afforded free Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) and Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) tests.

The tests would be done at Sigma Laboratory, which has partnered with the Grassroot Tennis Club in the venture.

This has been made possible from funds realized from the Tennis For Hope, an event staged at the Grand View Hotel tennis court, November 19.

The occasion was blessed with the presence of cancer survivor Sebastian “Bassy” Alexander, who used the forum to advise the men present of the experience.

Reliving the travails of his first diagnosis, Alexander stated: “ My problem was that I couldn’t find a soul, as nobody was able to tell me what to expect with prostate cancer; but I was told by my doctor that there are men out there with prostate cancer who had treatment, but (are) afraid to talk”.

Alexander said, as a consequence of his not having anyone come to his aid then, he has since become a “consultant” on prostate cancer.

A weekly columnist in the SEARCHLIGHT newspaper, Alexander revealed that he has used that medium to share with men his encounters, from diagnosis to treatment to surgery and his actions and experiences thereafter.

Alexander therefore implored the men, “Don’t be afraid to go to the doctor; if you don’t tell people about your problem, you would not get help”.

He noted that once tested and the result is positive, then help is available.

“It is an expensive exercise, but you have to do the necessary things to avoid it and know that it can be treated,” Alexander confessed.

Allaying other fears of men, Alexander reminded them that that they need to arm themselves with knowledge of prostate cancer.

“There is a lot of talk about prostate cancer and how it affects your sex life, but men who don’t know about prostate cancer are buying a lot of Viagra,” he noted.

Adding the religious ingredients to his medical treatment, Alexander advised: “Despite surgery and medical treatment, one must trust God, because he heals”.

Apart from Alexander, Dwight “Bing” Joseph, a diabetic, also shared practices, living with diabetes.

Tennis For Hope is an undertaking of the Grassroot Tennis Club.

 Over the years of staging the event, it has focussed on breast cancer in women.

This year’s Tennis For Hope was backed by Beacon Insurance and Ezone.