Former Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee President Brian Lewis is encouraging men to take prostate cancer seriously, stressing that early screening and open conversations can save lives.
Drawing from his own experience following a 2025 cancer diagnosis, Mr Lewis is urging men to speak with their doctors and get tested.
Speaking on Talk City 91.1FM’s Beyond the Limits on Monday, he said that open conversations among men are crucial in raising awareness of the disease.
“Prostate cancer awareness, education and open and honest conversations are important because the reality is that early detection from screening is important but denial is not a treatment option with a successful track record. Go and get screened; go and do your PSA. Talk to your doctor.”
He highlighted an incident where a close friend benefited from being encouraged to get screened.
“A friend called me and said he said, ‘Alright, I hear you. I’m going Thursday’, and he went Thursday and about a week and something later he called me, and he was said, ‘Brian, you know, my PSA come back at a number that was considered high, and they have to start to look at it and everything.’ He said, ‘Boy, thanks for that’.”
Since being diagnosed with cancer in 2025, Mr Lewis said he has adopted some new lifestyle changes to complement his vegan diet.
“For me the adjustments I had to make were easier but still challenging, so currently I am on a more plant-based diet, paying close attention to simple carbohydrates and things.”
Mr Lewis vows to continue to do his part to raise awareness about prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. According to the National Cancer Registry of Trinidad and Tobago, prostate cancer was the most common among the top ten causes of cancer deaths during the period January 2016 to December 2020 (18.2%), as well as the leading cause of cancer deaths in males.