Health minister urges men to discuss prostate cancer screening with doctors

Nicosia, Cyprus. Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides called on men to seek medical advice on prostate cancer screening during a Europa Uomo event marking European prostate cancer awareness day on Tuesday.

He said prostate cancer remained associated with embarrassment, fear and the belief that discussing screening with a doctor could be postponed.

Cases and mortality

Figures from the cancer registry show that an average of 726 new prostate cancer cases are recorded annually, making it the most common cancer among men in Cyprus.

Last year, prostate cancer was the second most common cause of death among men in the country.

Individual assessment

Charalambides said the figures did not mean that every man required the same testing. He said decisions on screening should follow discussion with a doctor and take into account age, family history and other risk factors.

He said events such as the one held on Tuesday provided an opportunity for open discussion about a disease affecting many men and their families.

Screening programme plans

The minister said an organised national screening programme would need to be based on documented data, with clear criteria on whom it would target and how continuity of care would be ensured after a diagnosis.

He said the government was moving towards organised screening programmes based on prostate-specific antigen testing, supplemented by further diagnostic tests where necessary.

Charalambides said the health ministry’s approach to early detection included reliable information and equal access to services.

He credited Europa Uomo with helping men understand risk factors, encouraging open discussion and bringing patients’ experiences into public debate on health policy.