Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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539. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE will require GPs to include PSA tests for prostate cancer as a mandatory component of blood testing for male patients, in order to reduce late-stage diagnosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22597/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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PSA (prostate-specific antigen) testing is available to GPs, and their patients, in Ireland. Testing for PSA has a role in assessment of men with clinical features suspicious for and/or suggestive of prostate cancer and in follow up of men with a diagnosis of prostate cancer. The appropriate use of PSA testing in this context and interpretation of results is described in the National Prostate Cancer GP Referral Guideline, available at: www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/5/cancer/profinfo/resources/gpreferrals/gp-prostate-referral-form-and-guideline.html.

The National Cancer Control Programme has advised that PSA testing is not recommended as a routine screening test for men with no clinical features suggestive of prostate cancer. While there is evidence to demonstrate that PSA testing of asymptomatic men is associated with increased detection of prostate cancer, debate continues about the benefits of increased detection as men with non-lethal cancers may, as a result, undergo radical treatments that compromise quality of life.

If testing of PSA in men with no clinical features of prostate cancer is considered, the clinician should discuss patient’s concerns, benefits/harms/risks of prostate assessment and provide the patient information leaflet: www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/5/cancer/patient/leaflets/having-your-prostate-checked-a-guide.pdf. This provides the patient with a basis for making an informed decision to consent to testing.

Screening based on risk stratification to identify those at risk of developing high grade prostate cancer is the subject of ongoing investigation. Ireland is a participant in an EU study on this topic entitled, PRAISE-U. The goal of PRAISE-U is to work towards better early detection and diagnosis of prostate cancer cases through carefully designed and risk-based screening programmes.