Prostate cancer tests in Spain are quick and inexpensive at many dispensing chemists

Pharmacies in Spain which offer “Análisis Clínicos” can perform PSA tests

There has been a sudden rise in the level of awareness of the threat of prostate cancer in the UK following the news that Stephen Fry is currently recovering from surgery to remove an aggressive cancer, and in Spain too his comments will doubtless have reached many expat Brits who may be wondering how to go about undergoing a prostate check-up in Spain.

The best method, of course, is to consult your GP and request a specialist check-up, but in fact a good indicator test is very easily available at some chemists and other medical centres without the need for making appointments and joining waiting lists.

The PSA blood test is used as a screen for the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and is mainly used as an indicator for prostate cancer in men without symptoms. It is also one of the first tests performed in men who have symptoms that might be caused by prostate cancer.

Most men without prostate cancer have PSA levels under 4 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) of blood. The chance of having prostate cancer goes up as the PSA level goes up, and although this is not 100 per cent reliable (because some men can have cancer while still maintaining a low PSE) it is recommended by the American Cancer Society and the US government’s National Cancer Institute.

Stpehen Fry had no hesitation when making his illness public on his webpage in advising all “men of a certain age” to undergo prostate cancer tests as soon as possible in order to ensure early detection of the disease where it is present, and the good news is that in Spain the PSA test is easy to access.

Any dispensing chemist’s which offers clinical analysis services (Análisis Clínicos) will be able to take a blood sample and perform the test, usually at a cost of only around 15 euros. Similarly, most private medicine clinics can also offer the same service, although usually at a higher price (rising to around 50 euros).

Like it or not, Stephen Fry is often right about many things, and on this occasion it is hard to ignore his advice. Having a blood test is a painless, quick and inexpensive procedure, and can lead to early detection and cure of potentially lethal prostate cancer: there really is no justification for any middle-aged man (or older) not to take the PSA test.

Ask at your local pharmacy if they perform the tests and if not, which of the local chemists do.

At only 15 euros, is it really worth leaving it to chance?

(The husband of the Ed took this test and it was quick  and painless.)

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