Polish health experts call for wider early cancer screening after PSA study shows low participation

A study commissioned by Bayer and presented in Warsaw on 10 June surveyed 1,040 Polish men; only one in three had ever taken a PSA blood test for prostate cancer. The main reasons for not testing were lack of symptoms, insufficient knowledge of the test’s purpose and fear of results. Experts stress that prostate cancer is curable if detected early and recommend men see a urologist around age 40 without needing a referral. Prof. Piotr Radziszewski said, “Urolog is a friend of the man; men should see him already around forty.”

Medical advice also highlighted 13 early warning signs that can indicate various cancers, such as unexplained weight loss, changes in bowel habits, blood in stool or urine, persistent pain, skin changes, chronic cough and fatigue. Physicians urge anyone experiencing these signs for several weeks to consult a specialist promptly, noting that early diagnosis improves prognosis.