Lautoka Health Centre community nurse Sokoveti Ravula said the percentage of men who get tested for prostate cancer is more than women.
She said this during the Pinktober celebrations at the Fiji Electricity Authority Training Centre in Lautoka yesterday.
“For men, the percentage coming late to get tested is far more serious because more than 70 per cent of men are coming late because of fear of what their families and communities will think of them,” Staff Burse Ravula.
“For women about 50 per cent come forward to get tested, but they are coming in Stage Two and Stage Three.”
Staff Nurse Ravula commended FEA for the initiative taken to advocate cancer awareness.
“I think right now not a lot is being done about cancer, so it’s good FEA is doing this. I think more businesshouses need to take a step forward and try and know more about cancer,” she said.
“For this session, it’s great that men are asking a lot of questions because we need them to be aware and to come forward to get tested,” she said.
FEA Human Resources Department team leader, payroll officer West and event co-ordinator Zareena Bi made similar comments.
“It’s usually women who are more affected by breast cancer and cervical cancer because those are the high rise ones,” she said.
“Having someone in your family who has cancer affects everyone emotionally and has its psychological effects.
“Hopefully by having these sessions, we can prepare our employees and their families to know how to deal with and address the issue if it arises,” she said.