Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 Mar 1998

Vol. 488 No. 2

Written Answers. - Cancer Treatment Services.

Alan M. Dukes

Question:

32 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Health and Children whether he will establish a pilot prostate cancer screening programme, in view of the fact that a newly available testing mechanism is available to increase the detection of prostate cancer and decrease the number of unnecessary prostate biopsies in the detection of this cancer. [5752/98]

Ivan Yates

Question:

62 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Health and Children whether he will establish a pilot prostate cancer screening programme, in view of the fact that a newly available testing mechanism is available to increase the detection of prostate cancer and decrease the number of unnecessary prostate biopsies in the detection of this cancer. [5753/98]

Alan Shatter

Question:

130 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children whether he will establish a pilot prostate cancer screening programme, in view of the fact that a testing mechanism is now available to increase the detection of prostate cancer and decrease the number of unnecessary prostate biopsies in the detection of this cancer. [5867/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 62 and 130 together.

The Deputies may be referring to a test known as PSA, or prostate-specific antigen which is increasingly being used for early detection and screening. Some experts argue that this test, when combined with digital rectal examination, can detect more prostate cancers and at an earlier stage. However, other experts argue that there is as yet no scientific evidence that such screening reduces deaths from prostate cancer. Much of the literature in this area notes that absence of controlled studies defining the costs and benefits of prostate screening and a common conclusion is that more research is required to determine its effectiveness.

Extensive trials on screening for prostate cancer are already under way. The National Cancer Institute in the USA and the European Cancer Programme are engaging in major studies involving more than 120,000 men to study the potential value of specific screening programmes. It is hoped that the trials will also provide valuable information about mortality identification of high risk groups and the most appropriate screening intervals, if such screening is proved to be medically effective.

As in the case of all potential screening initiatives, it is vital that we first satisfy ourselves as to the efficacy of any prostate screening programme. My Department will continue to keep the question of a pilot prostate screening programme under review in light of the available international evidence.