Men face 'two-tier system' in access to cancer test

Published on Monday 27 July 2009 19:05

MEN are facing a "two-tier" system of access to a test than can indicate prostate cancer, a health charity has warned.

The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test can help in the diagnosis of the cancer, which affects more men in the UK than any other. Each year, nearly 35,000 men are diagnosed and more than 10,000 die from the disease.

But the Prostate Cancer Charity have claimed that men have to overcome opposition from doctors to gain access to this test. A survey of GPs carried out by the charity revealed 20 per cent of those questioned disagreed that men should have access to the test at all.

A further 25 per cent said they would never raise, unprompted, the issue of the test with men aged over 50, the age group that was most likely to be affected by the cancer.

Further research by the charity into men in the 50-70 age range revealed about half were unaware of their right to request a PSA test from their doctor.

Those men in lower socio-economic groups were even less likely to be aware of the test, the charity claimed.

John Neate, chief executive of the charity, explained: "Men are facing a totally unacceptable two-tier system between those who are educated and confident enough to ask for the PSA test and those who remain in the dark.

"It is vital that we move as rapidly as possible to a position of 'universal informed choice', where all men are aware of the test irrespective of their social background."

He added: "Men should be aware of their right to request the PSA test from their GP, and no man should be denied access to the test, nor should they have to battle to exercise their right to access it."

Mr Neate acknowledged the PSA test was "very far from perfect", but insisted it was "the best that is currently available".