§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps are being taken to promote awareness of prostate cancer nationally; and if he will make a statement; [16210]
(2) what percentage of men (a) in England, (b) in the north-east region and (c) in the Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency have been checked for prostate cancer in the last 12 months. [16209]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 19 November 2001]: The national health service prostate cancer programme was launched on 6 September 2000. The programme covers research, treatment and a risk management programme specifically around improving early detection and diagnosis. One element of the risk management programme is the informed choice project aimed at raising awareness among men about prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing. This education project is developing materials for patients, the public and professionals which can be given to any man requesting a PSA test, to help him make an informed choice about whether to proceed with the test or not.
Information on what percentage of men have been checked for prostate cancer is not collected.