Nearly half of men in Panama have never had a preventive prostate exam, even though 99.4% are aware of the disease.
The figure comes from a national survey presented with the participation of the Ministry of Health (Minsa).
42% of respondents admitted never having had this test, a figure that set off alarms among health authorities.
The study, promoted by the National Federation of Associations of Critical, Chronic and Degenerative Diseases (FENAECCD) together with the firm Emotional Marketing Intelligence (IME), surveyed the behaviors of 512 men over 30 years of age from across the country through digital platforms.
In this research, applied through digital platforms, it was concluded that 99.4% of participants have heard of prostate cancer, and that 82% perceive that they have adequate information about the disease, while around 80% correctly identify that preventive check-ups should begin between the ages of 40 and 45.
Health Minister Fernando Boyd Galindo linked the low rate of check-ups to deeply rooted cultural patterns.
"From the Minsa we recognize that we must continue strengthening access to health services, but we also need a change in men's attitudes: breaking myths, overcoming taboos, and leaving machismo behind," the official said.
The minister added that prevention and timely medical check-ups can make...
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A doctor points to a prostate cancer diagram on a screen while discussing the condition with a patient during a medical consultation. (Illustrative Image Infobae)
Nearly half of men in Panama have never had a preventive prostate exam, even though 99.4% are aware of the disease. The figure comes from a national survey presented with the participation of the Ministry of Health (Minsa). 42% of respondents admitted never having had this test, a figure that raised alarms among health authorities. The study, promoted by the National Federation of Associations of Critical, Chronic and Degenerative Diseases (FENAECCD) together with the firm Emotional Marketing Intelligence (IME), surveyed the behaviors of 512 men over 30 years of age from across the country through digital platforms. In this research, applied through digital platforms, it was concluded that 99.4% of participants have heard of prostate cancer, and that 82% perceive that they have adequate information about the disease, while around 80% correctly identify that preventive checkups should begin between the ages of 40 and 45.
The image shows a blood sample and the form for a PSA test, highlighting its crucial role in men's health and prostate cancer prevention. (Illustrative Image Infobae)
The Minister of Health, Fernando Boyd Galindo, linked the low rate of checkups to deeply rooted cultural patterns. "From the Minsa we recognize that we must continue strengthening access to health services, but we also need a change in men's attitudes: breaking the myths, overcoming the taboos, and leaving machismo behind," the official said. The minister added that prevention and timely medical checkups can make a difference against the disease.
Why do so many men avoid the prostate exam in Panama? According to the FENAECCD survey, the main reason is the absence of symptoms, as many participants do not go to the doctor when they feel no pain, to which are added difficulties due to work responsibilities that delay seeking care. The president of FENAECCD, Emma Pinzón, explained that the results seek to contribute to strengthening primary care and generating greater awareness about early detection of the disease. In Panama, prostate cancer is the most frequent malignant tumor among men and an important cause of death. Pinzón noted that the lack of visible symptoms, along with work demands, are factors that delay early diagnosis in a large portion of the cases surveyed.
The figures from the National Oncology Institute (ION) illustrate the scale of the problem, revealing that between 2014 and 2026, 5,242 cases of malignant prostate tumors were recorded in the country. The Minsa reminded that men should go to health services to receive guidance on available screening tests, including the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and the digital rectal exam. The health ministry specified that the need and frequency of these checkups should be defined through an individualized evaluation, taking into account age, family history, and other risk factors. Health authorities reiterated their commitment to putting the patient first and strengthening prevention, health promotion, and early detection actions for the various types of cancer.
The National Oncology Institute reminds that men should go to health services to receive guidance on available screening tests.
This gap between knowledge and action, dubbed the "Male Health Paradox" by the researchers themselves, occurs in a country where prostate cancer is the most frequent malignant tumor among men and an important cause of death, although with recent signs of a decline in mortality rates. The concern expressed by the Ministry of Health (Minsa), the National Oncology Institute (ION), and FENAECCD is not limited to the statistical plane, but opens the door to a broader debate on masculinity, health system barriers, the design of prevention campaigns, and the place of prostate screening in health policies.
Also participating in the presentation were the Minsa's director general of Public Health, Yelkys Gil; the national subdirector of Primary Health Care at the Social Security Fund (CSS), Hiram Martín; and the general director of IME, Jaime Dreyfus.