Teresa can you help with an answer.
New PCA 3 Urine Test that Detects Prostate Cancer Better Than Other Methods, a Study Suggests.
Does anyone know if this test is available in Cyprus? If you do please let me have the contact Information of where I can have the test done.
PCA 3 TEST IN CYPRUS ????
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by Charnwood Blue » 10 Jun 2011 11:48
Teresa
The following was posted on another forum:-
Enquire at the Regional General Hospital, failing that the Polyclinic in Limassol. If it can't be done here they will send the sample to Crete where the University Hospital (part of W. H.O.) are capable of doing this test. If you have a medical card there will be no charge.
Have you ever heard of this service whereby they will send tests to Creete, from the General Hospital or The Polyclinic
The following was posted on another forum:-
Enquire at the Regional General Hospital, failing that the Polyclinic in Limassol. If it can't be done here they will send the sample to Crete where the University Hospital (part of W. H.O.) are capable of doing this test. If you have a medical card there will be no charge.
Have you ever heard of this service whereby they will send tests to Creete, from the General Hospital or The Polyclinic
- Charnwood Blue
by TeresaE » 10 Jun 2011 11:59
I haven't heard of that but that doesn't mean a lot as things are being updated all the time. I have a cancer specialist doctor looking into for you so just hold on a bit and we may find out - for you and for others.
Teresa
Teresa
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TeresaE - Medical advise
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by TeresaE » 11 Jun 2011 07:56
Hi again,
The doctor has tried to find out with no success so far - but the search goes on. In the meantime she has recommended that you see the following website which is full of information that may help you.
www.pca3.org
Hope that helps. I will let you know as soon as I hear anything.
Teresa
The doctor has tried to find out with no success so far - but the search goes on. In the meantime she has recommended that you see the following website which is full of information that may help you.
www.pca3.org
Hope that helps. I will let you know as soon as I hear anything.
Teresa
-
TeresaE - Medical advise
- Posts: 265
- Joined: 24 Nov 2009 09:59
- Location: Peyia, Paphos
by Charnwood Blue » 16 Jun 2011 12:52
Hi Teresa.
Have not heard from you so I assume there is no progress.
In the meantime I emailed the Ministry of health asking if the PCA3 test was available anywhere in cyprus.
Below is their very strange reply, when you consider that the PCA 3 test is used throughout the whole of the European Union Countries, and many other countries beside.
From: Dia Voniatis [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: 16 June 2011 11:59 AM
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Urine PCA 3 Prostate Cancer test
Ref. No 5.12.002
Tel.: 22 605 609
Fax: 22 345 199
Email: [email protected]
16 June 2011
Dear Mr Keith Rowe,
Subject: Urine PCA 3 Prostate Cancer test
Thank you for your enquiry at the Ministry of Health regarding the Urine PCA 3 Prostate Cancer test.
As you might already know the above test is a new gene-based assay to aid in the diagnosis of prostate cancer.
The Urine PCA 3 Prostate Cancer test has been extensively studied (Nature Reviews Urology 2011;8(3):123-124) and data has been analysed in numerous multicenter reports. The basic conclusion was that the above test was inferior to PSA test with regard to sensitivity therefore it is not an indicative test.
As a result of this, the above test is not currently offered in Cyprus and the Medical and Public Health Services do not plan to offer it on a routine basis as yet.
We hope we can be of any other assistance to you.
Please feel free to contact us for any other matter.
We remain at your disposal test is not available is Cyprus. This basically is robbing the male population of one of the best aids in the fight against Prostrate Cancer.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Dia Voniatis
(for The Director of Medical and Public Health Services)
MY REPLY TO THE GOOD DOCTOR
Dear Dr Dia Vanitis 16June 2011
Thank you very much for your prompt reply.
However I am most surprise that you conclude that PSA test is far superior to the PCA 3 test. . Basic research on both tests have put the PSA test with only a 30% accuracy in diagnosing Prostrate Cancer. However the PCA 3 test as a 70% accuracy.
I give you a few examples below on worldwide research on the benefits of the PCA3 test over the PSA test, there are many many more out there for all the public to locate and see.
Unlike prostate specific antigen (PSA), PCA3 is only produced by PCa cells and not affected by prostate size. It discriminates better than PSA between PCa and benign/non-cancerous prostate
A recent study suggests that the PCA3 Score can also differentiate between non-significant (indolent cancer) and significant PCa.
A high PCA3 Score indicates an increased likelihood of a positive biopsy, i.e. presence of cancer cells in the prostate. A low PCA3 Score indicates a decreased likelihood of a positive biopsy. If the PCA3 Score is low, a biopsy may be delayed or eventually avoided. In this way, the PCA3 Assay may help to avoid many unnecessary first biopsies and the potential discomfort and complications (pain, bleeding and infections) for the men involved.
The major difference between PCA3 (Prostate CAncer gene 3) and prostate specific antigen (PSA) is the fact that PCA3 is prostate cancer (PCa)-specific and PSA is not.
This is due to the fact that PSA is also produced by non-cancerous prostate cells. Therefore, PSA is not only elevated (higher than 2.5-6.5 ng/mL depending on age) in men with PCa but also in men with non-cancerous prostate diseases. These include benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, i.e. prostate enlargement) or prostatitis (infection of the prostate). The greater the number of prostate cells / size of the prostate, the higher the PSA level in the blood. As a consequence, many men with a PSA level between the age-specific upper limit of normal and 10 ng/mL do not have PCa, i.e. the prostate biopsy is negative / does not contain cancer cells. Prostate biopsy may cause pain, bleeding and infection. Therefore, there is a need for additional tests that will help to avoid unnecessary biopsies in these men.
PCA3 is, unlike PSA, only produced by PCa cells and not affected by prostate size. Therefore, the PCA3 Score better than PSA predicts the presence of PCa in a subsequent biopsy. As such, it will help to reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies and its potential discomfort, pain and complications (pain, bleeding and infections).
www.pca3.org Well worth a look at.
Conclusions.
The only Country in the European Union where the PCA 3 test is not available is Cyprus. Can every other country be wrong about the effectiveness of the PCA 3 test. Without the test being available the male population of Cyprus are being robbed of one of the best aids in the fight against Prostrate Cancer. It is time for Cyprus to catch up with the rest of the world and offer its citizens the latest in effective medical tests.
The test if available, would also save money, in many cases it becomes clear that a biopsy is not required and very expensive treatment need not proceed, your PSA test cannot do this.
Cyprus and the Medical and Public Health Services should plan to offer the PCA 3 test on a routine basis as soon as possible. Next week would not be early enough.
Looking forward to receiving your comments on my submissions to you regarding the availability of the PCA 3. test.
Yours sincerely
Keith Rowe
Have not heard from you so I assume there is no progress.
In the meantime I emailed the Ministry of health asking if the PCA3 test was available anywhere in cyprus.
Below is their very strange reply, when you consider that the PCA 3 test is used throughout the whole of the European Union Countries, and many other countries beside.
From: Dia Voniatis [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: 16 June 2011 11:59 AM
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Urine PCA 3 Prostate Cancer test
Ref. No 5.12.002
Tel.: 22 605 609
Fax: 22 345 199
Email: [email protected]
16 June 2011
Dear Mr Keith Rowe,
Subject: Urine PCA 3 Prostate Cancer test
Thank you for your enquiry at the Ministry of Health regarding the Urine PCA 3 Prostate Cancer test.
As you might already know the above test is a new gene-based assay to aid in the diagnosis of prostate cancer.
The Urine PCA 3 Prostate Cancer test has been extensively studied (Nature Reviews Urology 2011;8(3):123-124) and data has been analysed in numerous multicenter reports. The basic conclusion was that the above test was inferior to PSA test with regard to sensitivity therefore it is not an indicative test.
As a result of this, the above test is not currently offered in Cyprus and the Medical and Public Health Services do not plan to offer it on a routine basis as yet.
We hope we can be of any other assistance to you.
Please feel free to contact us for any other matter.
We remain at your disposal test is not available is Cyprus. This basically is robbing the male population of one of the best aids in the fight against Prostrate Cancer.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Dia Voniatis
(for The Director of Medical and Public Health Services)
MY REPLY TO THE GOOD DOCTOR
Dear Dr Dia Vanitis 16June 2011
Thank you very much for your prompt reply.
However I am most surprise that you conclude that PSA test is far superior to the PCA 3 test. . Basic research on both tests have put the PSA test with only a 30% accuracy in diagnosing Prostrate Cancer. However the PCA 3 test as a 70% accuracy.
I give you a few examples below on worldwide research on the benefits of the PCA3 test over the PSA test, there are many many more out there for all the public to locate and see.
Unlike prostate specific antigen (PSA), PCA3 is only produced by PCa cells and not affected by prostate size. It discriminates better than PSA between PCa and benign/non-cancerous prostate
A recent study suggests that the PCA3 Score can also differentiate between non-significant (indolent cancer) and significant PCa.
A high PCA3 Score indicates an increased likelihood of a positive biopsy, i.e. presence of cancer cells in the prostate. A low PCA3 Score indicates a decreased likelihood of a positive biopsy. If the PCA3 Score is low, a biopsy may be delayed or eventually avoided. In this way, the PCA3 Assay may help to avoid many unnecessary first biopsies and the potential discomfort and complications (pain, bleeding and infections) for the men involved.
The major difference between PCA3 (Prostate CAncer gene 3) and prostate specific antigen (PSA) is the fact that PCA3 is prostate cancer (PCa)-specific and PSA is not.
This is due to the fact that PSA is also produced by non-cancerous prostate cells. Therefore, PSA is not only elevated (higher than 2.5-6.5 ng/mL depending on age) in men with PCa but also in men with non-cancerous prostate diseases. These include benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, i.e. prostate enlargement) or prostatitis (infection of the prostate). The greater the number of prostate cells / size of the prostate, the higher the PSA level in the blood. As a consequence, many men with a PSA level between the age-specific upper limit of normal and 10 ng/mL do not have PCa, i.e. the prostate biopsy is negative / does not contain cancer cells. Prostate biopsy may cause pain, bleeding and infection. Therefore, there is a need for additional tests that will help to avoid unnecessary biopsies in these men.
PCA3 is, unlike PSA, only produced by PCa cells and not affected by prostate size. Therefore, the PCA3 Score better than PSA predicts the presence of PCa in a subsequent biopsy. As such, it will help to reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies and its potential discomfort, pain and complications (pain, bleeding and infections).
www.pca3.org Well worth a look at.
Conclusions.
The only Country in the European Union where the PCA 3 test is not available is Cyprus. Can every other country be wrong about the effectiveness of the PCA 3 test. Without the test being available the male population of Cyprus are being robbed of one of the best aids in the fight against Prostrate Cancer. It is time for Cyprus to catch up with the rest of the world and offer its citizens the latest in effective medical tests.
The test if available, would also save money, in many cases it becomes clear that a biopsy is not required and very expensive treatment need not proceed, your PSA test cannot do this.
Cyprus and the Medical and Public Health Services should plan to offer the PCA 3 test on a routine basis as soon as possible. Next week would not be early enough.
Looking forward to receiving your comments on my submissions to you regarding the availability of the PCA 3. test.
Yours sincerely
Keith Rowe
Last edited by Charnwood Blue on 16 Jun 2011 13:35, edited 1 time in total.
- Charnwood Blue
by TeresaE » 16 Jun 2011 13:19
Well Keith, it looks like you have got your answer and made a very articulate and measured response to it. Well done you.
I am surprised really as Cyprus is more advanced in a lot of medical fields that the UK is. However, I am sure they need to justify their reasons for not having the test. I hope you manage to sway their opinion.
Of course you can go to another European country and pay there for the test if you are determined. Maybe you could use the excuse to have a holiday at the same time.
Keep us informed won't you?
Best wishes - Teresa
I am surprised really as Cyprus is more advanced in a lot of medical fields that the UK is. However, I am sure they need to justify their reasons for not having the test. I hope you manage to sway their opinion.
Of course you can go to another European country and pay there for the test if you are determined. Maybe you could use the excuse to have a holiday at the same time.
Keep us informed won't you?
Best wishes - Teresa
-
TeresaE - Medical advise
- Posts: 265
- Joined: 24 Nov 2009 09:59
- Location: Peyia, Paphos
by Charnwood Blue » 16 Jun 2011 13:33
Teresa
Cyprus is more advanced in a lot of medical fields than the UK is. I agree entirely with this statement. I have knowledge of this, 18 years ago I was sent to the UK for treatment. They did lots of things but in the end I asked what was the plan with my treatment. The final bit of their answer was there is a new chemo that will be our final treatment, but it will be at least 3 years before we can use this chemo in your case.
So left to return to Cyprus. Within 1 week of returning I was being treated with the chemo that was not available in the UK.
Cyprus is more advanced in a lot of medical fields than the UK is. I agree entirely with this statement. I have knowledge of this, 18 years ago I was sent to the UK for treatment. They did lots of things but in the end I asked what was the plan with my treatment. The final bit of their answer was there is a new chemo that will be our final treatment, but it will be at least 3 years before we can use this chemo in your case.
So left to return to Cyprus. Within 1 week of returning I was being treated with the chemo that was not available in the UK.
- Charnwood Blue
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