Pasykaf Urges Men in Cyprus to Get Early Prostate Cancer Screening

Nicosia, Cyprus. The Pancyprian federation of patients’ associations and friends (Pasykaf) appealed on Wednesday for men to undergo early screening for prostate cancer, the most common form of cancer among men in the country. The disease represents more than a quarter of all male cancers in Cyprus.

Registry figures

Cancer registry data covering 2018 to 2022 list 3,186 cases, equal to 28 per cent of cancers diagnosed in men. The registry notes an average of 726 new cases annually. Last year, prostate cancer was the second leading cause of death among men.

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Campaign and risk groups

Pasykaf is conducting a campaign together with the urological society, the oncological society and the cancer registry. The organisation said the disease mainly affects men older than 50. Men with a first-degree relative who has been diagnosed are advised to raise screening with a doctor between the ages of 40 and 45.

Call for prevention

Georgia Orfanou, director of prevention at Pasykaf, said: “Early diagnosis can make the difference.” She noted that men in Cyprus tend to restrict preventive check-ups when they feel no symptoms.

Symptoms and testing

Early stages of the disease often produce no symptoms. Later signs may include trouble urinating, frequent night-time urination, a weak urine stream or blood in the urine. Pasykaf said the PSA blood test may help detect the illness at an early point, and a personal doctor can advise whether to be tested and how frequently.