OVER 2,800 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in Ireland in 2010. After skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men with one in nine Irish men being diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. Prosta-Check is a new simple, one step home test that can help men to monitor their prostate health. Prosta-Check tests for elevated levels of a protein called Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) which can be an early indication of prostate cancer. Early cancer detection is critical to successful cancer therapy treatments and it is quite common for men with prostate cancer to have no symptoms at all.
Cancer treatment typically becomes less effective once the disease has progressed and new research just published in the US Journal of The National Cancer Institute highlights the need for more targeted screening amongst young and healthy men and particularly those at high risk of prostate cancer.
Prosta-Check does not diagnose prostate cancer, instead it detects high levels of the PSA protein. PSA is produced by normal prostate cells and then released in small amounts into a man’s bloodstream by the prostate gland. While a high level of PSA can be associated with prostate cancer, it may also indicate that there is a benign prostate condition e.g. a urinary infection or even inflammation. A GP visit for further investigation is strongly recommended.
Prosta-Check in an important home prostate health check kit as it can provide reassurance, particularly if there is any personal or family history of prostate cancer. If prostate cancer has been diagnosed, Prosta-Check may also be used as a monitoring tool after treatment, to monitor PSA levels.
As PSA increases with age, there is growing consensus that men should test themselves aged 40+ when PSA levels are lower, as PSA levels increase with age. In a US study, Dr Hans Lilja from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre in New York found that PSA testing of men in their 40s was predictive of developing prostate cancer later. The study found that the higher the initial PSA, the greater the probability that the cancer would be aggressive.
While there are no agreed public screening protocols in Ireland, screening earlier at the age 40, and repeating every five years thereafter would recognise those with a high likelihood of developing prostate cancer, but also those who will not need further screening because their chance of ever developing prostate cancer is not significant.
Prosta-Check is available from pharmacies RRP €15.00.
How to Use
Prosta-Check:
1) Wash hands; 2) Open protective pouch and take out device and pipette; 3) Push small orange rod into body of lancet, until a click is heard (device activated); 4) Remove orange rod by turning left or right; 5) Press lancet onto finger and press trigger; 6) Massage finger that was pricked to obtain blood; 7) Put pipette into contact with blood; 8) Pipette blood into device; 9) Wait for blood to totally enter well; 10) Add 4-5 drops of diluent; 11) Read results after 10 minutes.
