John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Nearly 3,000 men will be diagnosed with prostrate cancer this year. Ireland has the highest incidence of the disease in Europe. Diagnosis is primarily done by means of a PSA blood test, physical examination or biopsy. A major study published by the University of London last week indicates that as many of half of the men who develop prostate cancer in the United Kingdom may have been wrongly given the all-clear as a result of the inaccurate diagnosis of standard biopsies. The research recommends that patients suspected of having prostate cancer undergo an MRI scan prior to a biopsy being carried out. Health economists calculate that the use of an MRI scan would result in one quarter of men suspected of having prostate cancer being given the all-clear without having to undergo the invasive diagnostic procedure. Not only would the use of MRI technology, as recommended by the University of London, detect more cases of prostate cancer, but it would also lead to fewer false positive outcomes and spare hundreds of men unnecessary and painful surgery, which can have distressing side-effects, including incontinence and impotence.

Is the Government aware that there may be serious problems with the screening process for prostate cancer? Is it aware that prostate cancer receives approximately one sixth of the funding allocated to common female cancers? In the past six years, investment in research for prostate cancer diagnosis amounted to €62 per diagnosis as compared to €477 per ovarian cancer diagnosis, €453 per cervical cancer diagnosis and €288 for breast cancer diagnosis. I ask the Government to give a commitment to commission an investigation into this major imbalance? Will the Minister ask the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, to examine the possibility of introducing MRI screening for men suspected of having prostate cancer prior to a biopsy taking place?

I would be interested in the cost-benefit analysis based on the estimated amount of a biopsy deemed unnecessary as a result of an MRI scan.

The Minister might ask why I am asking this on Leaders' Questions.

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