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Men over 50 are being offered free prostate cancer tests in a bid to try to increase awareness of the importance of early diagnosis
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Free prostate checks for the over-50s

January 18, 2013

Men over 50 are being offered free prostate cancer tests in a bid to try to increase awareness of the importance of early diagnosis.

The screening will be on Thursday, January 24, at Royal Berkshire Hospital and hosted by The Lions Club of Reading in association with Royal Berkshire Hospital and consultant urologist David Baxter-Smith.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK with 13,500 men dying of it every year and 250,000 living with the disease.

Early diagnosis is linked to a more positive outcome so The Lions Club of Reading is offering a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test to over 50s.

The aim is to increase understanding and awareness so that both treatment and diagnosis can be improved.

PSA is a simple test that involves a sample of the patient’s blood being analysed for PSA levels.

Mr Baxter-Smith will then review the results and send everyone a letter advising what needs to happen next.

The advice is categorised by a traffic light system. Green indicates the results of the PSA level were quite normal, amber indicates levels are just above the norm, further blood tests will be advised and red indicates an abnormal PSA level and patients should see their doctor.

Patrick Hamblin, community services chairman of The Lions Club of Reading, said: “With no national screening programme for prostate cancer, men over 50 may believe there’s no need to worry. We want to raise awareness of the facts and it is our ambition to run annual screening evenings. However, sufficient funds need to be raised to cover the significant costs involved and we are reaching out to the business community in Reading to support us.”

Prostate cancer is often believed just to affect older men, however it can also be found in men in their 50s.

President of the Reading Prostate Cancer Support Group, Dr Steve Allen, 64, who will be attending the evening at the RBH, was diagnosed with prostate cancer when he was just 59.

He said: “For people like myself who have already been diagnosed and treated, it is obviously too late to worry about screening – but it isn’t for others.

“The sooner prostate cancer is diagnosed the better. The less aggressive treatment can be and the better the outcome.

“Prostate cancer tests on January 24 aren’t scare-mongering – it is just common sense.

“It has been said that if prostate cancer was a disease of women, it would have been sorted by now. Men are just not that good at looking after themselves, especially where personal medical problems are concerned.”

The basic PSA test is not used as a National Screening Programme because it does not give a definitive answer to whether the patient has cancer.

The current Department of Health policy on PSA tests is that every man over the age of 50 should be given a test if he requests it from his GP.

Dr Allen said: “However, the vast majority of men are not aware of this and many GPs refuse to provide the test even when requested to do so – mainly using the argument that the test is not specific enough.”

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Hi everyone, please note that the free PSA tests will be done between 5.30pm and 9.30pm on the 24th January. It will be a simple blood test. For more detail visit www.readinglions.org.uk.

Jo Hamblin
23/01/2013 at 09:05

Thanks Alf, missed that bit.

And can I reiterate the sentiment of seeing your Dr no matter what the problem may be or how embarrassed you are.

I found a testicular lump which the Dr confirmed as a harmless cyst.

Happy Wanderer, Reading
22/01/2013 at 21:37

Happy Wanderer, Reading, yes, that's what's on offer, but as Whitespirit pointed out, the PSA blood test is much less effective than the DRE.

Alf Tupper
22/01/2013 at 17:31

Gentlemen, Ladies, It isn't a rectal exam but rather a blood test... "PSA is a simple test that involves a sample of the patient’s blood being analysed for PSA levels."

Happy Wanderer, Reading
22/01/2013 at 17:22

As the old Billy Connolly quip goes "If you hear a zipper go, run".

Old Crock
22/01/2013 at 09:40

Thanks (I think), Alf and 'spirit.

Just hit the 50, so may take up the PSA offer.

Crane God
19/01/2013 at 20:28

DRE, something that many men find slightly distasteful until they are offered the alternative of cancer. As Alf said, it's actually not painful and may help save your life. If you are under (roughly) 50 then you don't really need to worry unless there is a family history of pc. I am over 50 and asked for it to be done just to be safe and sure.

whitespirit
19/01/2013 at 17:13

Crane God, it's a Digital Rectal Examination, in other words, a finger up the bottom.

It's done with a lubricated gloved finger, and is the most effective way to feel the prostate gland. It's unpleasant but not painful.

Alf Tupper
18/01/2013 at 23:36

what is a Dre?

Crane God
18/01/2013 at 23:09

If ladies can suffer the 'squashed boob' exam then you gents are surely man enough for the quick dre? After all chaps, it may save your life. Extra points tho to those that can warble a las 'road trip' movie at the time!

voiceoftreason?
18/01/2013 at 21:06

I'd second that suggestion. I had one a few months ago (no problems) and, while it's not exactly pleasant, it doesn't hurt and is quick. Just be thankful you're not the one doing it.

I can't imagine what Dr. Dre was thinking when he chose his stage name. Must have confused 'rapper' with 'crapper'.

Alf Tupper
18/01/2013 at 18:05

PSA is not that effective without an additional dre. And for those who baulk at having a dre I ask you on thing.

Which would you prefer, a dre or to die from prostate cancer? I had mine done just over 18 months ago and was diagnosed with BPH but no cancer.

So swallow your pride gentlemen, go your GP and ask him to carry out the dre. You may just get another 15 years of life from having it done.