Concerns are growing over men using do-it-yourself prostate cancer test kits without medical oversight.
More than a week after British TV star Jeremy Clarkson revealed he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, there’s been a surge in men getting checked – with some choosing to do it themselves at home.
The Prostate Cancer Foundation’s Peter Dickens said the charity estimated the number of at-home testing kits being bought over the counter was in “the low thousands”.
The tests, which cost between $20 and $50, screen for the disease using a drop of blood to measure the level of prostate-specific antigen.
But experts warn the results can be misread, potentially delaying life-saving diagnosis and treatment.
“People doing are at home are at risk of getting either false reassurance that they may not be at risk of prostate cancer or indeed just coming to completely the wrong conclusion,” Dickens said.
Dickens warned the results need to be interpreted by clinicians, alongside other factors, including age and ethnicity.
In New Zealand, more than 4500 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, resulting in almost 750 deaths.
'GP was able to assess my general health, family history'
Prostate cancer survivor Bruce Cochrane said having his GP involved in the process was a "critical" part of his journey.
“He not only talked to me about what was going on so I knew all about prostate cancer, but he was able to assess things like my general health, any family history, etcetera, like that,” he said.
Cochrane said he started experiencing symptoms over three years ago. While the initial blood test showed very little prostate-specific antigens, a second and third test ordered by the doctor months later led to a specialist.
"The specialist went on to do some further tests, including an MRI, a biopsy, and eventually PSMA PET scan and they all confirmed that I had prostate cancer.
"But, luckily for me, it was still confined within the prostate."
The Prostate Cancer Foundation called for men to avoid at-home kits, instead pleading for an evidence-based approach funded by the next government.
"We're hoping that all of the political parties will commit to investing in a proper prostate cancer screening pilot," Dickens said.
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