Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men.
As the disease often develops slowly and the symptoms appear late, it is important to test yourself early.
Once the symptoms appear, it may be too late to cure the disease.
Therefore, the men who turn 50 in 2023 will now be offered a test and the region will make the first mailings during the fourth quarter of this year.
The test is voluntary and the man can book a test time himself.
- The purpose of an organized testing is to contribute to equality, ie the same offer to all 50-year-olds, says Charlotte Carlsson, who is the project manager for the testing.
Blood sample
To test for prostate cancer, a blood sample is taken to check the value of PSA, prostate-specific antigen.
If the value is too high, the man is called in for an X-ray examination with a magnetic camera.
Shouldn't this have started earlier?
- There are recommendations from the National Board of Health and Welfare to carry out an organized prostate cancer test and it has been a long process to obtain that data.
When can it be time for additional age groups?
- There is a preliminary plan, but we must evaluate the pilot project first, says Charlotte Carlsson.
Hear more about the project in the clip.