A man who lost his father to prostate cancer is urging others to get tested before it is too late.

James Marina, 60, says the death of his father George, at 63, devastated him.

His elder brother William was then diagnosed with the cancer at 53, but is doing fine since having his prostate removed in 1990. Nevertheless, falling into two 'at risk' categories a family history of the disease and being black puts Mr. Marina in danger of developing prostate cancer.

For this reason he makes sure he has an annual PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) blood test and a DRE (Digital Rectal Examination). "This is a rough subject. Us men aren't into anyone touching us in certain areas, but this cancer strikes black males and so it's incumbent on me to get checked," he says.

"I don't want these tests but I went through with them. The DRE is not a procedure which men like, but what is worse is watching a parent die through the progressive debilitating phases of cancer. "The death of my father in 1983 really rocked me."

Mr. Marina, assistant IT director at Belco, wants to encourage men to attend tonight's 'Men's Only Night' at Elbow Beach Hotel and also, the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre's free PSA screening clinic on Saturday.

He says: "Any kind of a forum where we have to express to each other some of our issues is always important, because we just don't do this normally. In men, any illness tends to be perceived as a weakness, even from starting out as a young boy. If you seek that attention from your momma then you are seen as whining and being a punk.

"From an early age we have to be tough. And as an older man, if you start experiencing health problems, you can see yourself as 'going downhill'. It's like it's the beginning of the end. But I think if you want to stay on top of your game, you've got to get busy."

Mr. Marina, of Sandys, says: "It is to your advantage to get tested. You're going to be with a lot of guys doing the same thing, so just go do it.

"With this disease early discovery is the key."

The father-of-three, from Chicago, adds: "The DRE testing it's not that it's painful, it's just the concept of 'I'm being interfered with'.

"But as men we need to start thinking not just about ourselves, but our loved ones."