Chamber
Plenary, 14 Sep 2000
14 Sep 2000 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Prostate Cancer
I add my congratulations to Maureen Macmillan on securing the debate. She is an assiduous pursuer of members' business and has touched on many issues that impact on the lives of all our constituents.
As we know, prostate cancer is known as the silent killer. I understand from the statistics that one in every 12 men runs the risk of contracting prostate cancer during their lifetime. It is the most common cancer in men.
It has been interesting to watch how the subject has been dealt with in Parliament. I have in front of me a substantial list of parliamentary questions on the subject that have been asked by members of all parties over many months. I see the Minister for Health and Community Care nodding—she is obviously well aware of those questions. In anticipation of today's debate, all of us have received e-mails, letters, faxes and telephone calls, not just from our constituents but from many other people and interested organisations.
In the interests of brevity, I will not repeat points that have been made. However, I will turn to an e-mail that I received this morning from one of my constituents, Ronald Pittendrigh from Fochabers, who works as a cancer therapist and counsellor. My colleague Brian Adam and other members may know of Mr Pittendrigh, as he does voluntary work for CLAN—Cancer Link Aberdeen and North East. It might be useful to put Mr Pittendrigh's e-mail in the library, as it contains so much information. I will pick out an extract that may be helpful to the minister when she responds to the debate.
"I was a guest speaker at the Scottish National Conference of Cancer Carers a couple of weeks ago in Crieff. As always, I spoke of the unnecessary deaths caused by the silent killer, Prostate Cancer. I spoke of the need for regular PSA tests for all men over 45 or 50.
Afterwards, five of the men present came up to me individually, to talk about their symptoms.
Two of the men seemed in real danger, but as a non-medical person I could only urge them to see their doctor and ask for a PSA check urgently. The other three men were worried about their nocturnal urine frequency. Sometimes this is just an indication of normal benign prostate enlargement"—
many of us are aware of that.
"I suggested that they also get a PSA check up . . . just in case. It is very important to remember that men can have a very advanced tumour, with secondaries, and be totally unaware of it . . . until it is too late."
Mr Pittendrigh also highlights the lack of support facilities.
As Maureen Macmillan, Nora Radcliffe and Nick Johnston rightly said, in addition to research, much information is available already for examination. We must also examine the PSA test, to determine whether it is possible to implement a screening facility for men over the age of 45. We should also consider how best to offer support to the support groups that do so much to help people after they have been diagnosed, when they are often suffering and in acute pain, with all the distress that that can cause their families.
As we know, prostate cancer is known as the silent killer. I understand from the statistics that one in every 12 men runs the risk of contracting prostate cancer during their lifetime. It is the most common cancer in men.
It has been interesting to watch how the subject has been dealt with in Parliament. I have in front of me a substantial list of parliamentary questions on the subject that have been asked by members of all parties over many months. I see the Minister for Health and Community Care nodding—she is obviously well aware of those questions. In anticipation of today's debate, all of us have received e-mails, letters, faxes and telephone calls, not just from our constituents but from many other people and interested organisations.
In the interests of brevity, I will not repeat points that have been made. However, I will turn to an e-mail that I received this morning from one of my constituents, Ronald Pittendrigh from Fochabers, who works as a cancer therapist and counsellor. My colleague Brian Adam and other members may know of Mr Pittendrigh, as he does voluntary work for CLAN—Cancer Link Aberdeen and North East. It might be useful to put Mr Pittendrigh's e-mail in the library, as it contains so much information. I will pick out an extract that may be helpful to the minister when she responds to the debate.
"I was a guest speaker at the Scottish National Conference of Cancer Carers a couple of weeks ago in Crieff. As always, I spoke of the unnecessary deaths caused by the silent killer, Prostate Cancer. I spoke of the need for regular PSA tests for all men over 45 or 50.
Afterwards, five of the men present came up to me individually, to talk about their symptoms.
Two of the men seemed in real danger, but as a non-medical person I could only urge them to see their doctor and ask for a PSA check urgently. The other three men were worried about their nocturnal urine frequency. Sometimes this is just an indication of normal benign prostate enlargement"—
many of us are aware of that.
"I suggested that they also get a PSA check up . . . just in case. It is very important to remember that men can have a very advanced tumour, with secondaries, and be totally unaware of it . . . until it is too late."
Mr Pittendrigh also highlights the lack of support facilities.
As Maureen Macmillan, Nora Radcliffe and Nick Johnston rightly said, in addition to research, much information is available already for examination. We must also examine the PSA test, to determine whether it is possible to implement a screening facility for men over the age of 45. We should also consider how best to offer support to the support groups that do so much to help people after they have been diagnosed, when they are often suffering and in acute pain, with all the distress that that can cause their families.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
SNP
I wish members an early good afternoon. The first item of business is a members' business debate on motion S1M-1122, in the name of Maureen Macmillan, on scr...
Motion debated,
That the Parliament supports the routine screening of middle aged men for early indications of prostate cancer, a disease which causes the second highest num...
Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
One of our most important jobs as elected representatives is to highlight important issues that struggle to get attention. I am therefore very pleased to hav...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
Four members have asked to speak from the floor. That will be possible if they keep their remarks to three and a half minutes.
Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
In a previous existence, I worked as a clinical biochemist in the national health service so I am aware of the difficulties that are associated with some of ...
Nick Johnston (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
I thank Maureen Macmillan for raising this subject, and congratulate her on securing the debate, especially during this special week.Like many cancers, prost...
Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD):
LD
I, too, commend Maureen Macmillan on securing this members' business debate. We have won the battle to raise awareness of breast cancer; we have the same bat...
Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I thank Maureen Macmillan for lodging the motion.We recognise that people sometimes fall through the social work and community care nets. In my experience, t...
Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP):
SNP
I add my congratulations to Maureen Macmillan on securing the debate. She is an assiduous pursuer of members' business and has touched on many issues that im...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
I call Susan Deacon to respond to the debate on behalf of the Executive. Minister, you have quite a lot of time—about 14 minutes. You may speak until the Fir...
The Minister for Health and Community Care (Susan Deacon):
Lab
I am grateful to Maureen Macmillan for raising prostate cancer as a matter for members' business. I am also grateful for the speeches of other members in the...
Mrs Margaret Ewing:
SNP
I do not claim to be a technical expert on the subject, but the information that I have received states that, although a PSA screening result of level 4 is a...
Susan Deacon:
Lab
The issue of PSA is important and I shall go on to say more about that in a moment. However, while Mrs Ewing was speaking, some of her colleagues were shakin...
Brian Adam:
SNP
Will the minister take an intervention?
Dr Richard Simpson (Ochil) (Lab):
Lab
Will the minister take an intervention?
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
We will take Brian Adam first.
Brian Adam:
SNP
I appreciate the difficulties that are associated with the PSA test. Will the minister indicate how the Executive hopes to improve diagnostic capability for ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
Dr Simpson, did you want to intervene on the same point?
Dr Simpson:
Lab
Yes.
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
We will take both points in that case.
Dr Simpson:
Lab
I apologise to members for arriving late. I had another meeting. I congratulate the minister on her exposition of a very difficult subject.Will the minister ...
Susan Deacon:
Lab
I am grateful to both members for their comments. I fear, however, that we have been lulled into a false sense of security about the time. Having been given ...