Advocate Spotlight on Jim West

By James Ullrich | NPCC | 07.24.2007

This month’s AWARE spotlight is on advocate extraordinaire Jim West, who fights tirelessly on behalf of men with prostate cancer in the state of Florida.  This spring, he made frequent trips to the state capitol of Tallahassee on his own time and money to advocate for the cause.  Jim testified before committees and lobbied state legislators to pass a bill mandating insurance coverage for prostate cancer screening and early detection.  Though the bill passed the Senate in the 2007 legislative session, it failed to pass through the House healthcare committee, possibly due to pressure against the bill from the insurance industry.

Without Jim’s unwavering efforts in Tallahassee, the mandate bill may not have made it this far.  He is currently gearing up to begin the fight all over again during the 2008 session.  We caught up with this tireless advocate to ask him a few questions about his dedication to the cause.

Jim has had an interesting journey leading up to his role as one of Florida’s most dedicated prostate cancer patient advocates.  Born in 1936 on the Island of Montserrat in the British Caribbean, he moved to England in 1959 at the age of 23 where he faced racial prejudice in post-war Britain.  Persevering in the face of adversity, Jim became a locomotive engineer and an officer in the trade union movement.

It would be twenty years before Jim would move across the pond to the United States, where he says, “It seemed like the grass was greener on the other side.”  He moved first to New York before finally settling in Florida.

It wasn’t until 1997, after Jim was diagnosed with prostate cancer, that he began advocating for men like him who were fighting this deadly disease.  Today, he passionately educates men about the importance of early detection using both the DRE (digital rectal exam) and the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) tests. 

“It must have been part of the divine plan,” Jim says. “Having just the DRE can give one a false sense of security.  Don’t believe it when a physician says that the PSA test is unnecessary.  Every man must get both tests for a proper screening.”

Jim also encourages men to get a second opinion after receiving either positive or negative test results.  “A second opinion is a must.  Men in their fifties and sixties are afraid to question their caregiver, but it is necessary.”

Today, at the age of 71, Jim’s cancer has returned, but he is optimistic about his prognosis.  “I’m far less fearful today than I was at the time of my diagnosis,” said Jim.  “I’m in good spirits for the fight ahead.”

To prove it, Jim continues to be an active champion for men with prostate cancer and those at risk.  Without missing a beat, Jim says he is “already laying the groundwork” for another major legislative push to pass his prostate cancer insurance mandate bill into law.  It’s also a safe bet that Jim will make additional trips to Tallahassee to lobby lawmakers as the 2008 session draws closer. 

But Jim doesn’t mind the work. “I’m dedicating my life to fighting this disease.  Your readers can call me 24-7 if they need me.”  

If you’d like to reach Jim for guidance, information, or to get involved with his local crusade, feel free to reach him at (727) 821-5999.  Every man dealing with this disease is lucky to have Jim West on the case.

Copyright 2007 NPCC