Solihull Member of Parliament calls for Prostate Cancer Screening

6.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 24th Oct 2005

Solihull Member of Parliament Lorely Burt has written to the Secretary of State for Health, Patricia Hewitt calling for screening for Prostate Cancer, which killed 10,000 men last year.

The Lib Dem MP was responding to a request from members of Solihull Pensioners Convention who raised the issue at a recent meeting attended by Mrs Burt. Solihull Pensioner, Douglas Franklin asked the Lib Dem MP to look into the lack of NHS funding for PSA screening for early detection of Prostate Cancer.

Mrs Burt said: "We still need to do more to detect cancers early, because it is the best way to save lives. Whilst improvements to screening programmes for breast and cervical cancer are still required, prostate cancer seems to be the Cinderella when it comes to funding.

"My understanding is that mammograms are 2% predictive, whereas PSA screening would be around 10% predictive for men over 50 years old. PSA screening would be particularly beneficial since most men suffering from prostate cancer can be cured if the condition is caught early.

"I have written to the Secretary of State because I believe that screening would not only save lives, but also save the NHS money in the longer term for other treatments."