A PSA test could easily be added to the Wellman blood tests offered by GP Practices, and yet it’s not – men are somehow expected to know this is the case and know to ask about it – quite how, I have no idea!
The PSA test is a blood test to help detect prostate cancer. But it’s not perfect and will not find all prostate cancers, but it is a first step that we believe should be a standard screening.
The test checks and measures the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood.
You have a higher risk of prostate cancer if you:
*have a family history of prostate cancer
*are of black ethnic origin
*are overweight or obese
Healthwatch Manchester recently sent a Freedom of Information request to NHS England regarding the cost to the NHS of a PSA test (primary care and hospital services) – they were told by NHS England to ask their local NHS Integrated care Board – they asked them the same question and were told to ask the UK Health Security Agency. It is known that a self-check prostate test kit can be purchased from high street pharmacy for £14.99 – so the cost is small.
The NHS state:
There’s currently no national screening programme for prostate cancer in the UK because the PSA test is not always accurate. Research has shown around 3 in 4 men with a raised PSA level will not have cancer, and around 1 in 7 men with prostate cancer would have a normal PSA result.
They express concerns that false positive may lead to unnecessary worry and medical tests when there’s no cancer and a false negative can miss cancer and provide false reassurance.
A raised PSA level in your blood may be a sign of prostate cancer, but it can also be a sign of another condition that’s not cancer, such as:
*urinary tract infection
This should also be investigated so the PSA test is a valuable resource. While a positive PSA Test result will naturally worry the person with a raised PSA level, it is better to get it investigated early and hopefully be relieved it is not Prostate Cancer. It is better to have a false positive which is investigated than to miss someone with Prostate Cancer
My own life limiting Metastatic Prostate Cancer may have been detected earlier and stopped before it metastasised with a simple cheap blood test done as part of a national screening programme
Shame on you NHS for not having a National Screening Programme for Prostate Cancer!
Wow, there should be a national screening programme