Prostate cancer prevention: free screenings in Skopje attract over 100 men
Organisers and doctors call for routine PSA testing starting at 50, with targeted checks from 45 for those with family history.
On the second day of a free screening campaign for prostate cancer more than 100 citizens have already been tested, organisers say — part of an effort to push preventive checks for men who often miss routine care.
Prevention and recommendations
Medical experts recommend that men begin preventive examinations at age 50, and those with a family history of prostate cancer should start at 45. If PSA results are normal, the test should be repeated every two years; any abnormality requires a follow-up consultation with a physician.
Visitors at the screening point described mixed awareness among men. "Average. I see people who are afraid and don't have time to set aside. But at least once a year you should come to get checked," one citizen said. Others added: "This is desirable for the male population for their health, especially after the age of 50."
Spase Janev, director of the Health Center "Zheleznichar", urged that male health must not remain a taboo. "The entire group — those who are most important around the age of 50 — need to be tested, those who most avoided preventive check-ups. Those where protecting men's health is still a taboo topic. We are already breaking those taboos, we prevent and work on early detection of cases, or tell them everything is fine — just continue to undergo preventive testing at the appropriate intervals," Janev said.
Health officials stress the ease and value of PSA testing. "All you need to do is one prick of the finger for early detection of prostate cancer and save yourself many hospital days and many medicines. The PSA test is the only one that is diagnostic. The only one that can be used for early detection of cancer. All other tests are for monitoring already diagnosed cancer," said Sasho Klekovski, Minister of Health.
The campaign was organised by the association known as the Gentlemen Club, which says it hopes to expand the action nationwide and offer free preventive checks to as many men as possible. Organisers also note that men often service their cars more regularly than they take care of their own health — a habit they want to change.
Photo: press material from the event
