Sandals Royal Bahamian invited renowned Bahamian Oncologist Dr. Theodore Turnquest to give its male staff a huge dose of men’s health information last week.

Dr. Turnquest conducted a discussion on cancer in The Bahamas. He primarily focused on the major health issues affecting Bahamian men. While colorectal and lung cancer were also topics discussed, it was prostate cancer that garnered the most attention as prostate cancer and breast cancer have similarly high annual death rates in the Bahamas, according to Dr. Turnquest. The Bahamas is ranked number 13 in the world for prostate cancer deaths per 100,000.

About 20 men from various departments throughout the resort sat in on the 45-minute session that is part of an ongoing training initiative put on by the Sandals Royal Bahamian’s Training Manager, Kayla Hilton.

Dr. Turnquest revealed that the Bahamas’ high prostate cancer rating is primarily due to something that we cannot alter – our majority race/ethnicity. Black men carry more testosterone which contributes to a heightened risk of developing prostate cancer. Even more alarming, the risk of developing prostate cancer is almost not a risk, but an inevitability. As Dr. Turnquest stated: “If we all live to be 90 years old, we will all develop prostate cancer.”

Although cancer is a difficult subject to address, prostate cancer is even more so. Dr. Turnquest says that general cancer screening should begin as early as age 20, with exams on the thyroid, oral cavity, lymph nodes, and testes being performed regularly.

As we are continuously told, however, with proper diet, exercise (meaning 60 minutes of daily vigorous physical activity) and maintaining a healthy weight, all is not lost in our battle against cancer.