July 15, 2014
Testing needed to stop cancer epidemic
Cancer researchers are recommending more be done to screen Maori men for prostate cancer.
Researchers at Waikato Hospital's Bryant Education Centre found Maori and rural men showed significantly lower rates of prostate screening than their Pakeha and urban counterparts.
Despite contracting their disease at a lower rate than Pakeha, Maori men are more likely to die from it.
Lead researcher Professor Ross Lawrenson says the screening was inconsistent between GP practices, and doctors need to go further than simple blood tests.
"The PSA blood test is a useful test to be done but we do recommend the digital rectal exam where you can actually feel the prostrate gland and see whether it has changed in feel and whether there is likely to be cancer there is an important part of that assessment," he says.
Professor Lawrenson is not recommending a national screening programme because it could lead to over-diagnosis and over-treatment.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH PROFESSOR ROSS LAWRENSON CLICK ON THE LINK
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