Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

For me this debate is very personal. In October 2014 I was told I had prostate cancer. Perhaps it would be relevant if I focused on this in the couple of minutes I have. At that time one got a biopsy up the back passage. When I was told I had the cancer, I was told they would probably monitor it for six months. I asked the doctor at the time whether it would be possible to get a transperineal biopsy, which is much more accurate. My cancer was at the top of the prostate and very difficult to get to. For years I had been getting different biopsies and they had come up negative. I was told then that I would have to go to see a radiotherapist and a surgeon. I thought the surgeon would basically say to go for surgery and the radiotherapist would say to go for radiotherapy. It worked out anyway. They said it was a fast-growing cancer and that the only option for me was surgery. I got the surgery. It did not work out. It was great in that they removed it, but a couple of days later I got sepsis, and a year after that I had to get another operation, another operation and so on. I was told after that that the prostate-specific antigen, PSA, was rising again. I had to get back into the system again.

Much has changed since then. One can get a transperineal biopsy. I could not get robotic surgery at that time; it is now available in some areas. Again, I think a transperineal biopsy is much more accurate. What I am really arguing for tonight is that we give people a greater chance of going back to work. That was my priority. I wanted to get back to work. I wanted to get back to representing my constituency. Many people said I was mad and told me to think of my health and so on. There are many things we can do, though. According to the Irish Cancer Society, something like 3,357 people are diagnosed every year with prostate cancer. Of those people, 90% will survive, so the cancer has a high survival rate, but catching it early is so important. I recognise we are focused on Covid, but that is only one aspect of our health service and we need to focus on cancers and saving people's lives. That is my message tonight, including to those who are listening in at home. If you are worried, do not be worrying at home. Go get tested.

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