International Men's Health Week Spotlights Prostate Cancer Screening in Latin America

The International Men’s Health Week, observed in numerous countries, is urging men to adopt regular medical check‑ups, healthier lifestyles and to address mental‑health concerns. Campaigns across the region promote early detection of major illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and, notably, prostate cancer.

In Venezuela, the Sociedad Anticancerosa de Venezuela (SAV) has used the World Prostate Cancer Day on 11 June to call for timely prostate screening. The organisation reports 9,345 new prostate‑cancer cases and 4,181 deaths in 2024, making it the leading cause of male cancer mortality in the country. SAV advises men from age 45 (or 40 for high‑risk groups) to undergo annual PSA blood tests combined with a clinical rectal exam, stressing that early diagnosis dramatically improves survival chances. The campaign also seeks to break cultural taboos around the exam and promote overall healthy habits to reduce risk.