ABOUT two years ago, a 52-year-old teacher decided to get screened for prostate cancer after reading an article which advised men in their 50s to do so.
It turned out to be one of the wisest things he had ever done. He was diagnosed with the cancer which was in its early stages - even though he didn't show any symptoms.
Last month, he underwent surgery to remove his prostate and is now recovering well.
'I was shocked and wondered: Why me? But I said to myself: Just as well I had that blood test. If not, it could have been worse.'
He is one of the luckier ones. About half of men here who suffer from prostate cancer die from it because they are diagnosed at a late stage when symptoms develop, said Dr Christopher Cheng, head of the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) urology department.
It is the fifth most common cancer among men here, up one notch from figures in 1997.
Indeed, data from the National Cancer Registry show it is on the rise, from an annual average of 105 new patients between 1988 and 1997, to an average of 234 cases in 1998 and 1999, the latest available figures.
Symptoms include having to pass urine very frequently, having problems urinating or feeling the bladder has not completely emptied after urinating.
The Singapore Urological Association, Singapore Cancer Society and four public hospitals are collaborating to hold the first Prostate Awareness Week here, offering educational talks and free screening for members of the public.
The test, known as the prostate specific antigen blood test, looks out for high levels of a protein the body produces to fight a tumour in the prostate. It normally costs $30.
About a third of those with abnormally high levels of the protein will have cancer, said Dr Sidney Yip, a consultant with SGH's urology department.
Further tests such as a rectum examination and a tissue biopsy are needed to confirm a diagnosis of cancer.
The free checks will be available at the four organising hospitals over four days - Tan Tock Seng on Feb 23, Changi General on Feb 24, SGH on Feb 25 and National University (NUH) on Feb 26.
There will also be a public forum on prostate health at the auditorium of the HDB Hub in Toa Payoh on Sunday. The first session will be held from 1 to 3pm in English, while the second, in Mandarin, will be held from 3 to 5pm. Admission costs $5.
The organisers hope to screen at least 2,000 men who are above 45 years old, those with immediate family members who have prostate cancer or those who may have symptoms.
The president of the urological association, Dr David Consigliere, who is also the acting chief of NUH's urology department, said: 'Some men may have symptoms but just dismiss them as part of ageing. In some cases, this is true, but it's better to check if it's cancer.'