General
Help Your Man Have a Healthy Prostate
By Tom Murphy
13, Mar 2012 - 09:19

Mayo Business, Pamex Ltd. Target Women in Prostate Health Awareness

Help Your Man Have a Healthy Prostate

The incidence and death rates for prostate cancer are higher in Ireland than in England, Scotland and Wales (Irish National Cancer Registry, 2011). One in 13 Irish men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2012 (Incidence and death rates for prostate cancer are higher in Ireland than in England, Scotland and Wales, according to Irish National Cancer Registry). What does prostate cancer have to do with women? Plenty! Women's involvement is critical in preventing prostate cancer. Men are conditioned from an early age to cope quietly instead of telling others about their ailments and consequently consult their family doctors much less regularly than women do. Women can help men to adopt healthier habits and help their partners, fathers, brothers and sons to overcome the obstacles when it comes to prostate health and encourage regular checking of his prostate and testing his PSA levels.

Research published in 'British Medical Journal', how men perceive themselves is crucial to how they respond to illness. Male traits like aggression, competitiveness and emotional reticence are major barriers that prevent men from looking after their health properly. A man may express the gamut of emotions while watching a football match, but when informed that he may have to lose a limb, he will attempt to absorb the information without flinching.

PROSTA-Check - A Simple New Home Test

PROSTA-Check a new, one step home test which can help men check up on their prostate health, is now available in pharmacies nationwide thanks to Pamex a company founded in Mayo . Pamex source only the highest quality niche products from around the world, which will in turn have a positive impact on people's lives, PROSTA-Check is their latest product to be added to the portfolio that aims to positively affect people's lives. PROSTA-Check tests for elevated levels of a protein called Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), which can be an early indication of prostate cancer. Early cancer detection is critical to successful cancer therapy treatment, because treatment typically becomes less effective once the disease has progressed (World Health Organisation).

PROSTA-Check does not diagnose prostate cancer; instead it detects high levels of the PSA protein. PSA is produced by normal prostate cells and then released in small amounts into a man's bloodstream by the prostate gland.

While a high level of PSA can be associated with prostate cancer, it may also indicate that there is a benign prostate condition e.g. a urinary infection or even inflammation and a GP visit for further investigation is strongly recommended.

PROSTA-Check in an important home prostate health check kit, as it can provide reassurance, particularly if there is any personal or family history of prostate cancer. If prostate cancer has been diagnosed, PROSTA-Check may also be used as a monitoring tool after treatment, to monitor PSA levels.

As PSA levels increases with age, there is growing consensus that men should test themselves aged 40 onwards on a yearly basis. In a US study (US Journal of Clinical Oncology), Dr. Hans Lilja, from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre in New York, found that PSA testing of men in their 40s was predictive of developing prostate cancer later. The study found that the higher the initial PSA, the greater the probability that the cancer would be aggressive. While there are no agreed Public Screening protocols in Ireland, screening earlier, at the age 40, and repeating every year thereafter could recognise those with a high likelihood of developing prostate cancer, but also those who will not need further screening because their chance of ever developing prostate cancer is not significant.

PROSTA-Check is available from pharmacies nationwide Price €16.99. For stockist information please contact Pamex Ltd. on 094 9024000 or info@pamex.ie