The Walnut Foundation upholds men’s health

BY MICHAEL THOMAS

The Walnut Foundation held its fifth annual conference on men’s health in Toronto at Ryerson University on Saturday, October 19^th, 2019. This conference was for anyone who has an interest in learning about men’s health and also in supporting men as they strive to be more responsible for their own health.

The sold-out conference emphasized prostate health awareness and survival strategies, as well as featuring sessions led by academics, researchers, survivors, and healthcare professionals. The speakers included Dr. Willie Underwood, III, MD, MSc, MPH who is a urologist based in Buffalo, New York, and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the American Medical Association (AMA) along with a host of some of the best that Canada has to offer in the medical field of prostate disease.

The Walnut Foundation is a registered charitable organization with a focus on men’s health support. The organization currently has a Men’s Health Interest Group and a Prostate Cancer Support Group that is the brainchild of Dr. Winston Isaac Ph.D. who formerly headed up the School of Health Services Management at Ryerson University. Unfortunately, Dr. Isaac passed away on February 15^th, 2019, but the work he started continues through a six-member executive team consisting mostly of prostate cancer survivors.

Canada’s largest Caribbean Newspaper (Toronto Caribbean Newspaper) spoke before the conference with both co-chairs of the event, Mr. Ken Noel and Mr. Anthony Henry about the importance of getting tested for this disease and how the organization can assist. Noel informed Toronto Caribbean Newspaper that Dr. Willie Underwood mostly treats black American men with prostate cancer in his practice and he had a message for black men, “It is all about understanding all of the risks and getting treatment early.”

“Part of the conference,” Noel said, “is to alleviate any concerns that they may have regarding treatment both for themselves and their families as well because the family is involved too when it comes to caring for those with the disease.”

Henry agreed with Noel and told Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, “Its all about understanding your risk, because African and Caribbean men are highly susceptible to this illness, and we tend to get the more aggressive form of the disease, therefore we have to get a black baseline PSA test done at age 40 even though the normal testing age is 50.”

To folks who did not get to attend the event because it was sold out Noel said, “We have men’s support groups based in Brampton where we have monthly meetings; we provide one on one information counseling to men who have been diagnosed and we are always there at the Walnut Foundation to help men. “Both Noel and Henry told Toronto Caribbean Newspaper that they are cancer survivors and are trained to support and be a sounding board to men who are diagnosed or are going through treatment.

When asked why the name Walnut Foundation Noel answered, “The walnut itself is the size of the prostate in a young man, therefore, by giving it this name the picture is very clear.”

To black men out there who are still reluctant to get tested for prostate disease Noel said, “There are two ways you can find out if you are at risk one is a blood test and the other is a physical exam; these will also be on the table for discussion at the conference.

The two co-chairs reinforced the same advice unanimously, please get tested, get educated  because this will allow you to ask the right questions of your physician and in turn help them to take the necessary actions needed to ensure you are not in danger; at the end of the day it is your health.

For more information about The Walnut Foundation please see their website: www.thewalnutfoundation.com