Man Credits Online Prostate Test for Early Diagnosis and Survival

A man who initially identified a potential prostate cancer risk after purchasing an online test has advocated for others to proactively address this health concern. Cumberland councillor Brian Wernham, currently halfway through a three-year treatment regimen, encouraged men to undergo testing for the disease. He stated his belief that his survival today is due to him personally managing his health concern. Prostate Cancer UK indicated that men over 50 in the UK are entitled to a blood test that can aid in detecting the condition, but current guidelines impede general practitioners from initiating these discussions. The Department for Health has been contacted for comment. Mr Wernham recounted consulting his general practitioner about two years ago, reporting symptoms of tiredness, and was prescribed antidepressants. “You think ‘I’m turning 60, maybe it’s just getting old’,” he said. After consulting an American urologist via an online platform about a separate matter, Mr Wernham was recommended undergoing a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, which can identify elevated levels of the protein and suggest the presence of prostate cancer. However, PSA levels may be elevated due to multiple factors, including an enlarged prostate, or stay within normal range even with cancer. Mr Wernham stated his GP assigned him to a non-priority waiting list for the test following his inquiry. “After I put the phone down, I went on to Amazon and just typed in PSA test,” he said. The £7.90 finger-prick test indicated a potential for prostate cancer in Mr Wernham. The councillor subsequently persuaded his general practitioner to refer him to a specialized cancer unit, where he was diagnosed with stage three prostate cancer. “I wouldn’t be here if I had not done the test,” he said. Prostate Cancer UK stated that current NHS guidelines stipulated that it was “each man’s responsibility to find out his own risk and to ask for a PSA test himself”. The charity advises against at-home testing kits, as they lack professional medical guidance post-testing, and encouraged men to consult their general practitioners. Paul Atkinson from Blyth, Northumberland, is also living with prostate cancer, but his condition is no longer curable. In 2022, on his birthday, he received information that his cancer had metastasized and he had a life expectancy of two to five years, although he is responding well to treatment. “I was waking up to go to the bathroom more often but I just didn’t realise that was one of the symptoms,” he said. “People of my generation, and my father’s generation, didn’t talk about things like that.” “Now I urge every man, especially if they’re over 50, to get checked.” BBC North East can be followed on X, Facebook, Nextdoor, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. All rights reserved. Copyright 2024 BBC. The BBC bears no responsibility for material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external links is available.