Mustache and November are the words that gave birth to the phrase “Movember”, which is also used to raise awareness among men of the importance of screening, especially to prevent the diseases that most commonly affect them.
Statistics show that the number of people taking part in screening tests in our country is still relatively low. Within the Hungarian National Colorectal Cancer Screening Program, only a few per cent of men and women aged 50-70 years who participated in the program had a colonoscopy following a non-negative faecal blood test. Participation rates in other public health screening tests are also low. It cannot be highlighted enough that many diseases can remain asymptomatic for several years, and late detection can reduce the chances of recovery.
From sex hormones to vitamins
All men can benefit from health screening. HR-Pharma, as a laboratory service provider in Szeged, offers several such tests, which provide information primarily on the state of the blood system, sex hormone levels, liver, pancreas, muscle and kidney function. It also provides information on the function and regulation of thyroid hormones and the levels of essential ions and vitamins. HR-Pharma offers health screening packages that include tumor marker tests for the digestive tract and lungs, and targeted tumor marker package for men that includes prostate tumor screening.
What is a PSA and why should you pay attention to it?
Prostate Specific Antigen, or PSA, is produced by the epithelial cells of the prostate gland. Although this level increases somewhat with age, levels above 10 ng/mL may indicate the presence of prostate cancer. This is why annual PSA screening is recommended for all men over the age of 45, as early detection of prostate tumors makes them more likely to be cured. A less elevated value is not necessarily the worst-case scenario, as it may indicate benign prostate enlargement, inflammation or infection, but further confirmatory tests following PSA measurement may answer these questions.
Detectable risk reduction
Prostate cancer is the third most common malignant cancer in men. However, the death rate for men who have regular PSA screening is one third lower than for those who do not. HR-Pharma’s recommended laboratory tests for men not only give an idea of an individual’s general health, but can also help to detect any existing, as yet asymptomatic diseases.