Gordon Snow urges men to test early as he shares prostate cancer journey with Parliament

GREAT BAY--Prostate cancer survivor Gordon Snow used a personal presentation to Parliament on Monday to urge men across St. Maarten to overcome fear and embarrassment, get tested early and speak more openly about prostate cancer, stressing that early detection can make a major difference in treatment and recovery.

Snow addressed Parliament on September 28 as part of activities recognizing Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. In opening the meeting, Chairlady Sarah Wescot-Williams noted Parliament’s continued efforts to raise awareness about the disease and said employees of Parliament had been encouraged to wear a touch of blue throughout the week in support of the campaign.

Wescot-Williams said Parliament wanted to use the occasion to acknowledge those who continue year-round efforts to raise awareness among the population, particularly men, about prostate cancer. She stressed the importance of early detection, support for those affected by the disease and greater openness around men’s health.

As part of that effort, Parliament invited Snow, a prostate cancer survivor, to share his experience with Members of Parliament, the Council of Ministers and the wider public. Wescot-Williams said the hope was that his testimony would encourage greater awareness, open dialogue and continued attention to men’s health in St. Maarten.

Snow told Parliament that prostate cancer awareness efforts carried out over the past decade are beginning to show results, with more men coming forward for testing. He noted that this year saw a record number of men tested, but said stigma, embarrassment and misconceptions about prostate examinations continue to discourage some men from taking action.

One of the biggest misconceptions, he explained, is the belief that prostate cancer screening automatically means undergoing a rectal examination. Snow stressed that his own cancer was initially detected through a PSA blood test, which measures prostate-specific antigen and can provide an indication that further examination may be necessary.

Snow said he began having PSA blood tests at age 40, long before he had any indication that he would eventually develop prostate cancer. He had no known family history of the disease, but continued testing as part of his routine health monitoring.

That decision eventually proved critical. Snow said his PSA level increased from 3.7 to 12 over approximately a year and a half. The sharp increase triggered further testing and eventually led to his diagnosis at age 55.

He cautioned men against considering prostate cancer solely a disease of old age, pointing to cases involving men in their early forties. He said men with fathers, brothers, uncles or other close relatives who have experienced prostate cancer should be especially mindful of their risk and should not delay discussing screening with a healthcare professional.

Snow described the uncertainty that followed his own diagnosis, recalling the initial shock of learning that he had cancer and not knowing whether it had already spread elsewhere in his body. After those first weeks, he said his focus shifted from questioning why it had happened to determining what he could do about it.

He underwent several months of examinations before deciding that surgery was the best treatment option available to him. Snow eventually travelled to Panama, where his prostate was surgically removed using robotic-assisted surgery.

He told Parliament that the procedure was followed by approximately eight weeks of initial recovery and a much longer period before he considered himself fully recovered. He also spoke openly about issues many men are reluctant to discuss, including the potential effects of prostate cancer treatment on bladder control, sexual function and fertility.

Snow said men need to understand those possible consequences, but also recognize that delaying diagnosis can significantly limit treatment options. Detecting the disease while it remains treatable can give patients more choices than discovering it after the cancer has advanced or spread.

His central message to men was not to procrastinate. Snow emphasized that taking care of one’s health is also a responsibility to family members who want their fathers, husbands, partners, brothers and sons to remain healthy and present in their lives.

He also urged men who avoid testing because of embarrassment to consider the routine health examinations women undergo for breast and cervical cancer screening. Women, he said, regularly undergo uncomfortable medical examinations because they understand the value of early detection, and men should approach prostate health with the same seriousness.

Snow also encouraged prostate cancer survivors to speak about their experiences. He said conversations with other men who had gone through diagnosis and treatment helped him understand his options and reinforced that prostate cancer should not be treated as something shameful.

Following Snow’s presentation, Wescot-Williams thanked him for sharing his experience and also commended Members of Parliament who continue to raise awareness about prostate cancer and other cancers.

She said the challenges St. Maarten faces with healthcare costs make prevention and screening even more important, stressing that the country cannot place enough emphasis on preventive screening and public awareness.

Wescot-Williams also called on businesses across St. Maarten to make it possible for their employees to respond to calls for screening and testing. She said employers have a role to play in ensuring workers are able to take the necessary time to protect their health.

While September focuses attention on prostate cancer, Wescot-Williams noted that Parliament intends, God willing, to place greater focus next month on breast cancer, another disease that has affected many families in St. Maarten. She also pointed to concerns that younger women are increasingly being affected.

She again thanked Snow and encouraged him and other prostate cancer survivors and advocates to continue driving the message of awareness, screening and early detection throughout the community.

Snow concluded his presentation by urging men to have the PSA blood test and seek medical advice rather than waiting for symptoms or allowing fear to keep them away from screening.

For Snow, his own experience demonstrated why knowing his PSA level before he became ill mattered. Years of testing provided a baseline that allowed a significant change to be identified and investigated, ultimately leading to treatment.

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