Prostate test urged for all men over 50

All men over 50 should have an annual blood test to detect prostate cancer, according to this report (premium content) by Fiona Gartland in The Irish Times.

And despite its imperfections, the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test plays an important role in detecting prostate cancer, particularly in symptom-free men, a seminar was told by Sonya Bowen, a specialist prostate cancer information nurse with the Irish Cancer Society. And if the condition is detected early enough, the recovery rate is nearly 100 per cent, the seminar, "Talking about prostate health can save men's lives", heard. The seminar was hosted by Fine Gael MEP Gay Mitchell, who lost his father, two brothers and a sister to cancer.