Government urged to review approach to prostate cancer detection amid warning that lives are at risk
By John Kierans
Copyright irishmirror
Ireland has one of the worst records in the world for detecting prostate cancer – and it is costing lives. The National Cancer Register confirmed more than 3,600 men are diagnosed with the disease every year, and the earlier it is discovered the better chance of survival. The Government is being urged to urgently bring in a prostate cancer national screening programme like BreastCheck and CervicalCheck. The demand has come from the Independent Ireland TD Ken O’Flynn who warned far too many men are being diagnosed too late and dying of prostate cancer. Prostate is now the second biggest cancer killer among men after lung cancer with 605 men on average a year dying from it. His call came after Irish Sky News presenter Dermot Murnaghan, 67, who grew up in Co Down , revealed he is undergoing treatment for stage four prostate cancer and he urged men to get tested for it. Deputy O’Flynn has now asked Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to review Ireland’s approach to prostate cancer detection. He said: “Prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in Ireland, yet we still have no structured national screening programme. “Men over 50 are entitled to request a PSA test, but without awareness campaigns or routine invitations, far too many are diagnosed when the disease is already advanced. “Survival rates are dramatically higher with early detection, yet Ireland continues to lag behind other European countries in offering structured screening.” He has now tabled a Parliamentary Question to the Minister for Health seeking a commitment to the introduction of a screening programme. He is also pressing for a full breakdown of late-stage diagnoses over the past five years, details of public information campaigns to encourage men to request PSA tests, and a regional analysis of testing. He also asked for a cost–benefit assessment of introducing routine PSA screening. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
