Over 40? Now’s the time for your FREE PSA test…

Any Lincolnshire Freemason past his 40th birthday is eligible for a PSA test paid for by the Province.

Working with the CHAPS charity we’re running FREE PSA testing for the second year on May 14th, the day of our Provincial Grand Chapter and Provincial Grand Lodge meetings – but you don’t have to attend either meeting to have your test.

Last year’s testing at the Lincolnshire Showground revealed a higher-than-average number of men whose test results came back with red or amber flags, indicating the need for further examination. The opportunity to be tested is available to anyone between the ages of 40 and 80 not already being treated or under care for a known prostatic condition.

Screening is strongly recommended for men of with a family history of prostate cancer, breast, or ovarian cancer, or those of black African and Caribbean heritage who are at high risk from prostate cancer.

Testing in summary

1. 1.  Testing is available from 10am to 2pm on May 14th;
     2.  There are 160 appointments available;
     3.  Tests MUST be booked in advance;
     4.  You will need your NHS number to make a booking;
     5.  You MUST print your appointment confirmation and take it to the test;
     6.  You DO NOT have to attend the PGC or PGL meetings to book a test;
     7.  Go to the CHAPS web site at this link;
     8.  Click ‘Login’ at the top right hand side;
     9.  Click ‘Create account’ and follow the instructions on screen
     10. Go back to the link above and scroll down until you see our event and click ‘book’ (They’re in date order);
     11. In the new window that appears click ‘book event’
     12. Use the access code lincoln (all lower case) to open our booking site;
     13. Make your booking.

What is a PSA test?
The PSA test is a blood test that measures the amount of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. PSA is a protein produced by normal cells in the prostate and also by prostate cancer cells. It’s normal to have a small amount of PSA in your blood, and the amount rises slightly as you get older and your prostate gets bigger. A raised PSA level may suggest you have a problem with your prostate, but not necessarily cancer.

What’s involved?
A simple blood test is all that the test involves. CHAPS does not perform any other tests such as a digital rectal examination of the prostate. The charity says a PSA test is still the best available to detect PCa at an early, curable stage.  The test measures the level of a particular protein in the blood.  The amount depends on your age and the health of your prostate.

What happens after the test?
Blood samples are sent to the lab, and the results are returned to CHAPS. The result is checked against the normal range for your age and any personal risk factors. An online report is generated, showing the exact PSA result and risk assessment. If it’s normal, it will be presented as a normal Green result.  If the result is slightly abnormal, it generates an Amber result and the test should be repeated in three months.  If the result is clearly abnormal, a Red result is generated and should be taken to your GP, as a specialist referral may be required. It’s important to note that CHAPS does not send results to your GP.

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