October, the month dedicated to breast cancer prevention has ended, but prevention should be paid attention to throughout the whole year. Following the breast cancer awareness campaigns in pink October, November follows as the month for prostate cancer prevention. Union zdravotná poisťovňa warns that men’s participation in preventive examinations by a urologist is alarmingly low.
This year, only 5,5% of insured men underwent a urologist’s examination. According to the law, every man from 50 years of age is entitled to this free preventive examination once every three years. Union ZP insureds can take advantage of this benefit from the age of 40 in a two-year interval. Of the total number of 58 339 insured persons in the mentioned age group, only 3 211 came to a urologist this year, and concerningly low attendance also applied in previous years:
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5,5% | 5,5% | 4,3% | 5,3% |
A urological examination consists of a rectal palpation of the prostate and ultrasound measurement of its volume, urine and blood testing, assessment of the condition of the urinary bladder and kidneys, and uroflowmetry, which is a non-invasive measurement of urinary flow. On this basis the doctor fills out a questionnaire and obtains the so-called IPSS score, which numerically determines the patient’s degree of discomfort.
“**To support an increase in men’s attendance at urological preventive checkups, we introduced several measures. In addition to sending reminders via SMS, we also inform insured persons from 40 years of age about the possibility of having blood drawn for a PSA test with a general practitioner. We are offering this as the only insurer, and we believe that general practitioners can more easily convince men to undergo a urological preventive checkup once they already have their PSA test results in hand,” explains Elena Májeková, director of the Health Insurance Section.
In addition, Union insured persons can, within the preventive urological checkup, ask a urologist to indicate the specific marker p2PSA, which has higher sensitivity than the standard PSA test and makes it possible to calculate the Prostate Health Index (PHI). It is a comprehensive prostate assessment consisting of p2PSA, PSA and free PSA tests. Union covers all examinations that are part of this “package”. PHI is calculated from the analysis of the three parameters and allows the determination of the risk of prostate cancer or, in some cases, the need for a prostate biopsy.
“Since attendance at preventive checkups with general practitioners is higher than for urological checkups, we believe our insured persons will use at least the option of PSA testing with their doctor, as it does not represent such a strong psychological barrier and will be the first step toward prostate cancer prevention,” adds Union spokesperson Kristína Baluchová.
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is produced by prostate cells, but under normal conditions only a minute amount gets into the blood. Cancerous prostate cells produce it in higher amounts. There are two forms of PSA that exist simultaneously - free and bound. In the case of increased PSA concentration in blood, the ratio between them is determined. If it is less than 25%, the risk of prostate cancer is higher.
Source: Union zdravotná poisťovňa, a.s.