Cllr Looney: ‘I was just one of the lucky ones’

Cork County Council has called for the establishment of a national screening programme for prostate cancer.

The call comes following a motion from Independent councillor William O’Leary at Monday’s full council meeting.

Currently, access to prostate testing in Ireland is mostly GP-led and request-based, said Cllr O’Leary.

Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in Irish men today with one in six men diagnosed within their lifetime. Although it is regarded as one of the most treatable cancers, early detection is key.

Cllr O’Leary said: “In a lot of cases it's asymptomatic and when symptoms do appear, the cancer can be more advanced. Men over 50 should have a clear structure of access to prostate screening through a national programme with proper clinical guidance, proper follow-up pathways, and national coordination.”

Ireland is currently participating in a major European pilot research project called PRAISE-U (Prostate cancer Awareness and Initiative for Screening in the European Union).

Co-funded by the EU, the three-year project focuses on how organised prostate cancer screening programmes can be implemented in a way that is feasible and cost-effective.

Cllr O’Leary said: “This is welcome progress, but it remains a pilot and not a national programme, and many men are still diagnosed later than we think.”

Mr O’Leary’s motion hit close to home for a number of his council colleagues, none more so than Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Looney who is himself a prostate cancer survivor. “I was just one of the lucky ones,” said Cllr Looney, who’s cancer was diagnosed after his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels were found to be worryingly high.

“I had no symptoms whatsoever. It was just by accident that I got a blood test and it showed 42, which is fairly high.

“So, it's hugely, hugely important to go and get your PSA done absolutely from 50,” he said.

Another councillor who has been affected by prostate cancer is Fine Gael’s Marie O’Sullivan whose partner is currently fighting the disease.

She said: “It's amazing to see the prostate cancer is actually only recommended to be tested for instead of an actual national initiative, which is just flummoxing to me. It's a particular journey we are going through in our own house at the moment.

“And due to diligence by a GP who insists on six monthly blood checks, it was detected on a PSA blood test. My partner has got prostate cancer, but he has also got metastatic bone cancer.

“Any gentlemen out there, please go and get your PSA levels done,” added Cllr O’Sullivan.

Cork County Council will now write to the HSE and the Minister for Health calling for the establishment of a national screening programme for prostate cancer.