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It's a dilemma that Janelle Chanona tries to unravel in this special feature on cancer in men. Here's her report:..

Janelle Chanona, Reporting

Family; no matter what yours looks like, the men in the picture-fathers; brothers; husbands; sons-play important roles in our lives.

But every year, Belizean men are disappearing simply because they're not going to the doctor.

No one knows exactly how many Belizean men are walking around with cancer. But medical experts do know that our male population is especially prone to prostate and colon cancers...cancers that can be treated and even cured if diagnosed early.

Anthony Neal, Cancer Survivor
"I would never believe it. I would never believe it. I would never believe I would have end up with something like this."

In late 2010, sixty-one year old construction worker Anthony Neal, noticed he was going to the bathroom a lot more than usual.

Anthony Neal
"I wasn't paying it any mind. You know, I am a person who drinks a lot of water so I figured more less it's the water. I like to drink to lots of water; I thought it was the water why I getting up every morning, every night peeing, peeing, and peeing back to back. Whenever I try to pee, I can't. It's like I hold not the post and shake, you know. To try to get it out, it burns. Not too far after, about a week after, then I really started feel the pain, so it was near to death."

Medical tests subsequently revealed Neal had prostate cancer. With the support of his family and friends, Neal underwent surgery. He emerged from the experience with a deeper appreciation for life... and doctors.

Anthony Neal
"Dr. Ragama said 'Mister Neal you are a lucky person because your cancer is old and should have already spread to your bones and your lungs and your liver'. But for some reason it didn't spread."

Today, Neal is cancer free and he wants his male peers to get help before it's too late.

Anthony Neal
"It is not time to be afraid or to be ashamed. Shame is not a good term to even use. You ask yourself what you prefer, to be shame or to have your life, which is it?"

Prostate cancer is one of the most survivable types of cancer...if detected early. But the fact is Belizean men are shying away from cancer screening tests. Doctors say it's not the blood test or even the ultrasound scaring men off. It's one test in particular-the Digital Rectal Exam or DRE.

Dr. Irvin Gabourel
"It's such a quick examination, that by the time...it takes longer to go dentist and have a root canal or simple extraction. It's a matter of seconds that you will be embarrassed and the information that you will get from that examination is so helpful that I think it's worth the embarrassment if you want to call it."

Dr. Jorge Hidalgo
"We are talking about the screening tests; means that nobody has symptoms. We usually do by an epidemiological basis that this is the most frequent type of cancer in certain populations and then we recommend them to do those tests in order for us to get the diagnosis of cancer in an earlier stage that we can offer a curative treatment before the cancer spreads."

Another cancer common in men that can be cured if detected early is colo-rectal cancer. Diagnosis requires a colonoscopy, a procedure even more invasive than the DRE.

Dr. Irvin Gabourel
"Whether you're a man or a woman, you should get your first colonoscopy at age 50. Now a lot of men particularly, because we are talking about men, tend to put that off for as long as possible."

But according to Gastroenterologist Dr. Irvin Gabourel, the benefits of the test far outweigh the discomfort of the procedure.

Dr. Irvin Gabourel
"Colo-rectal cancer is a silent killer. By the time you have symptoms, the disease could be well into its progress already. And we're talking stage three and up. Remember you have stage one, stage two, stage 4 and stage 4. By the time you are getting these symptoms of abdominal discomforts, rectal bleeding, bloating, pain, we're talking about an advanced disease. And unfortunately there are many, many cases that come at that stage and expect miracles thereafter."

Retirees Norris and Sandra Hall started looking out for cancer years ago. Their routine of annual check-ups paid off in 2011 when Norris' doctors detected an early stage of prostate cancer.

Norris Hall, Cancer Survivor
"It was not a matter of fighting cancer...it was dealing with the situation I had in a positive sort of way. I believe if I had decided to "fight" cancer, it would have been a stressful, awful experience. I took it hour by hour, day by day and I rode through it, it was like climbing Victoria Peak and coming back."

Sandra Hall, Wife
"I always said, 'we' have cancer cause for me it wasn't Norris' journey. It was our journey."

The couple explored different treatment options before deciding to undergo surgery in Belize City.

Norris Hall
"I was awake and I felt when they made the incision and felt the entire operation for four and half hours. It was a surreal experience because as I describe it, it was like sitting behind the driver's wheel of my car and my car had broken down and we had three mechanics working under the bonnet."

The surgery was successful and recovery was remarkably rapid but the Halls know they must remain vigilant.

Sandra Hall, Wife
"Yes, there is that fear that it is going to come back and the fear is not okay, he may die. We all have to die. And we accept our mortality. But it is as you get older, it becomes a bigger challenge dealing with that illness because for instance, when Norris had his surgery, I was the only one here to look after him."

The Halls have insurance but the frightening reality is that for too many Belizeans, even the costs of the cancer screening tests are too expensive.

Laura Longsworth, President Belize Cancer Society
"If you cannot afford it, you don't have access to those services then that means you won't get that service. And people make those decisions in Belize every day. Every day they make those decisions. 'No, I am not going to do that because it will take money away from my family.' Let's start from health, visiting the clinics just for an annual check-up. Those services are available at the public health centres, free of cost almost or at a very minimal cost. Of course it is also available in the private sector but with the aspect of our poverty levels in Belize, we must advocate for the use of our public health system and that system is well equipped with specialists that you can be referred to."

While advances in medicine are on-going, there is only one oncologist working in Belize-Dr. Elsworth Grant-at the Belize Cancer Centre in Dangriga. It's a situation that the Belize Cancer Society insists requires urgent attention. They are calling for a national, comprehensive plan to make tests and treatment both accessible and affordable.

Laura Longsworth, President Belize Cancer Society
"For cancer care, you've got to look at services, the screening services, vaccines and so on. You also have to look at x-rays and so on but you also have to look at surgeries and other interventions and of course chemotherapy and radiation. At least at a basic level, and that is our focus. We at the society cannot afford to look at any one part, we look at it comprehensively and that's what we advocate for. Cancer is not as visible and that is the thing that really...people who develop cancer feel betrayed because they say I am eating right. I'm doing everything right but I still have cancer. That is the point. That really you don't know."

Healthy lifestyle choices will improve your odds, but the clear and present danger is that cancer can strike anyone anywhere at any time. So you've got to go looking for it. Know your family history. Talk to your doctor about changes in your body. And most importantly, get your screening tests.

Laura Longsworth
"Cancer is not visible and that is the thing... people who develop cancer feel betrayed becaue they say 'I am eating right. I am doing everything, but I still have cancer'. That is the point. That really you don't know."

Norris Hall
"There's no point in asking the egotistic question, 'Why me?' It doesn't make...you'll begin to feel sorry for yourself. Take a positive approach. Don't fight cancer. Deal with the issue of cancer in whatever possible way you could. Cooperate with your physicians and other medical advisors."

Anthony Neal
"With Belize man they scared a man touches them or touches their private but you can't live like that. There is a time when you have to throw away all those small things and those petty things and stand up and that's what our people have to do. Our men have to do and stop being ashamed. I would tell the man today what you want to do? You want to be ashamed and end up with a bag on your side and you will never have sex again in your life or have a chance to at least have it if you use a little Viagra or whatever, which do you prefer? Not to have it at all or at least could have it with a little helper? So get off your rear, and seek help and that shying thing. That shying thing is past…"

And to do your part in raising awareness, you can participate in Saturday morning's Cancer Walk. Those wishing to take part should arrive at the Cancer Center on Mercy Lane at 4:00 for transport to Ladyville - where the walk to the city starts at 5:00 from Celina's.

You can also purchase your t-shirts at the Cancer Center.