Men over 50 urged to have annual blood test to detect prostate cancer

All men over 50 should have an annual blood test to detect prostate cancer, a seminar was told yesterday.

Despite its imperfections, the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test plays an important role in detecting prostate cancer, particularly in symptom-free men. And if the condition is detected early enough, the recovery rate is nearly 100 per cent, the seminar was told.

"Talking about prostate health can save men's lives", was hosted by Fine Gael MEP Gay Mitchell, who lost his father, two brothers and a sister to cancer.

Sonya Bowen, a specialist prostate cancer information nurse with the Irish Cancer Society, said there is no screening programme for prostate cancer in Ireland because the Department of Health is awaiting the results of two European trials, expected next year, which will advise on the best form of screening for the condition.

"We would recommend the PSA test be taken once a year," she said.

This could then be followed by a rectal examination to feel for an enlargement of the prostate."

She said that a raised PSA level did not necessarily mean the presence of cancer in the prostate, but warranted further investigation.

Ireland has the third highest rate of prostate cancer in Europe, with 1,130 new cases diagnosed every year and 500 deaths from the condition annually.

Symptoms of the condition, where they exist, include high frequency of urination, pain on urination, trouble starting or stopping and or lower back pain.