Lions host a successful PSA screening test day for men

Billingshurst & District Lions enjoyed a successful day hosting an event organised by the charity, PCaSO (Prostate Cancer Support Organisation) offering free Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) screening tests for all men between 40 and 80, at the Billingshurst Community Centre on Saturday 13 April 2024.

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A PSA Test is a simple blood test that measures the amount of antigen produced by the prostate entering the blood. It is not a direct test for cancer, but a moderately raised reading can be an indicator of a prostate problem; a high reading should trigger further tests to determine if there is a need for any treatment.

The event was run entirely by volunteers with testing conducted by trained phlebotomists taking blood from a vein in the arm, that is sent to an NHS Hospital for analysis. Results are then loaded onto the secure bookings website and men are advised by e-mail to log-on to view their result, while those who requested it, will get their result by post.

An original allocation of 300 appointments was rapidly oversubscribed and ultimately 465 tests tests were processed through the system in just 210 minutes, no mean achievement. The results were ready in a couple of days and 6.2% of men tested had an elevated reading and were advised to seek further guidance from their GP.

A friendly welcome from PCaSO volunteers at the reception desk.

Roger Bacon, from the Charity, commented: “A successful event at Billingshurst, please thank your Lions volunteers for me for all their help in managing the car parking, guiding men in the right direction and supplying cups of tea and coffee.”

Pausing afterwards to view the Lions display boards, one gentleman was heard to say: “I came with some trepidation at my wife’s insistence, but I was greeted with a calming smile, directed to the reception desk with all the forms laid out, and no sooner had I sat down in the waiting area than I was called through to one of the five phlebotomists. The organisation was brilliant and the whole experience took no more than five minutes.”

We hope to repeat the event next year, but alternatively, you can use this link to the PCaSO website <www.pcaso.mypsatests.org.uk> to find out where other testing events are scheduled.

For further information on Billingshurst & District Lions Club follow them on Facebook and on the Website <billingshurstlions.org>