Free tests 'crucial' for UK's most common cancer

Dr Bob Yang said he hopes the event will educate men and give them "peace of mind"

A doctor has said free prostate cancer tests are "crucial" to early diagnosis and is taking part in a scheme to raise awareness.

Circle Reading Hospital has partnered with Reading Lions Club to host free prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood tests on Saturday 4 October to encourage men to get tested.

Dr Bob Yang, a Consultant Urological Surgeon at The Royal Berkshire Hospital said: "This particular disease is often silent and early testing can prevent invasive treatment."

Research shows prostate cancer has overtaken breast cancer as the most commonly diagnosed form of the disease in the UK, but unlike breast cancer, there is no national screening programme.

On average more than 47,500 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in the UK which is 130 men every day.

The event is hoping to encourage more than 1,000 men to come forward and get tested, and aimed at men aged between 45-75.

'Prevention is better than a cure'

Dr Yang said that the event is an "opportunity for all men to get tested" and "isn't just for "someone who is concerned".

He said: "The event could be for someone who might have a risk factor, for example a father or brother who had it.

"As well as someone who has fought cancer and now wants aftercare for side effects, like incontinence.

"Equally, it could be someone with cancer who wants to talk about treatment."

PSA tests measure the levels of prostate-specific antigens in the blood.

He said: "A raised PSA level might indicate a problem with the prostate but does not always mean cancer."

"If your PSA is high then the next step is an MRI to find out what is going on and then a perineum biopsy which is extremely accurate these days."

"It is always better to check than to be in the dark and there are many things we can do now," he added

Christopher Hatton with dog Bella said losing a friend encouraged him to get tested

Christopher Hatton, 71, from Purley-on-Thames in Berkshire said he has been attending free PSA events for the last six years ever since he lost a friend who was younger than him.

He said: "Not all men have symptoms, most don't, my friend didn't and after he was diagnosed he deteriorated quickly.

"It can creep up on you, so why would you not go get checked, it's just a blood test and it could save your life."

One in eight men will get prostate cancer

Mr Hatton explained that another friend of his got tested and found out he did have cancer.

He said: "He was lucky, they caught it earlier and it's been dominant now for many years."

"My advice: Get tested early and you have better chances of survival, otherwise it creeps up on you and it could be too late," he added.

Interim Executive Director of Circle Reading Hospital, Rachel Barker said: "Tragically 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.

"Early detection and regular testing are two of the most effective ways of tackling the disease."