Prostate cancer project saved 36 lives, says trust

PRESSURE is growing on the Government to introduce a national screening programme for prostate cancer after an independent pilot project is believed to have saved the lives of 36 men.

A recent screening programme, initiated and funded by the Construction Workers Health Trust (CWHT), on all construction workers aged over 50, recorded a positive detection rate of prostate cancer in 1.7% of cases.

However, concern was also expressed that almost three out of four construction workers did not avail of the free test.

The CWHT - which was established in 1994 by construction trade unions - said the 200,000 project was designed to save lives by identifying men with previously unrecognised prostate cancer.

A total of 2,145 active and retired construction workers aged 50-69 responded to the invitation to attend a free medical examination.

Although only 27% of potential candidates availed of the test, the trust said the uptake was similar to other prostate cancer pilot projects conducted abroad.

Thirty-six men were treated for prostate cancer after testing positive for the disease.

“Lives have certainly been saved by the implementation of this project,” said the trust’s medical director, Dr Harold Brenner. He claimed the detection rate of 1.7% was significantly higher than the average figure of 0.5-1% recorded in other screening programmes.

“The findings must add weight to the need for the introduction of a national screening programme as construction workers are no more prone to prostate cancer than the general male population,” said Dr Brenner.

“Prostate cancer is also one of the most curable cancers if detected and treated early. Unfortunately, most cases are diagnosed after the symptoms appear.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer for men in Ireland. It is estimated that over 500 die from the disease each year, with 1,200 cases diagnosed on average over the same period.

Prof John Fitzpatrick, consultant urologist at the Mater Private Hospital in Dublin, said the CWHT project had proved extremely valuable for the early detection and long-term control of prostate cancer in those surveyed.

Michael Brennan, chairman of the trust, expressed concern that around 100 construction workers who had not availed of the invitation for a free test, could have undiagnosed prostate cancer based on the preliminary findings.

He warned that over 8,000 Irish males could be unaware they had the potentially fatal disease, if the results were applied to the general population. The CWHT will begin the next phase of the programme next year when all construction workers who reached the age of 50 since April 2000 will be offered a free test.

Common symptoms of prostate cancer are difficulties experienced in passing urine or any change to the normal functioning of the bladder in men aged over 45.