A chara, - In his frank first-person story (Healthplus, February 28th), Deaglán de Bréadún says a man is one-third more likely to get prostate cancer than a woman is to get breast cancer. In his case, the alarm bells started ringing after a routine PSA blood test. Such tests should be available as a part of a national health screening programme.
It is sometimes argued that PSA tests are unreliable but recent experiences with breast cancer screening also indicated a degree of unreliability.
Men pay taxes to fund the public health services. Fir na hÉireann should lobby TDs to increase political awareness of prostate cancer and introduce a programme of male health screening. Meanwhile, sláinte mhaith do Dheaglán de Bréadún. -Is mise,
TONY QUINN, Delginis, Co Áth Cliath.