SOCIETY AND CULTURE ON MENS HEALTH In Ghana, people with prostate cancer generally encounter significant disparities in awareness, funding, media coverage, and research-and therefore, inferior treatment and poor outcomes-compared to other cancers of equal prevalence. In Ghana , there is also perception that promiscuous men get this dreaded cancer. In 2001, the Guardain noted that Britain had 3,000 nurses specializing in Breast Cancer, compared to only one for prostate cancer. It aslo discovered that the waiting between referral and diagnosis was two weeks for breast cancer but three month for prostate cancer. A 2007 report by US-based National Prostate Cancer Coalition stated that for every prostate cancer drug on the market , there were seven used to treat breast cancer. The Times also noted anti-male bias in cancer funding” with a four to one discrepancy in the UK by both the government and by cancer charities such as Cancer Research UK. Equality campaigners such as author Warren Farrell cite such stark spending inequilities as a clear example of government unfairly favouring women’s health over men’s health . Disparities also extend into areas such as detection, with governments failing to fund or mandate prostate cancer screening while fully supporting breast cancer programs. For example, a 2007 report found 49 U.S states mandate insurance coverage for routine breast cancer screening, Compared to 28 for prostate cancer. Prostate cancer also experiences significantly less media coverage than other, equally prevalent cancers, with as study by prostate cancer coalition showing 2.6 breast cancer stories for each one covering cancer of prostate. It is also very difficult for charities in Africa fighting for prostate cancer to get grants for their work. Prostate cancer Awareness month takes place in September in a number of countries using a light blue ribbon to promote the cause but neither celebrated in Ghana.
Posted on: Fri, 08 Nov 2013 09:12:00 +0000
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