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Armenian Ministry of Healthcare (MOH) has implemented prostate cancer early detection screening from September to December 2016 within the programs for early detection and prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCD). Tsaghik Vardanyan, Head of health Care Policy department at MOH presented the data at a press conference on Tuesday, informing the screening has been implemented among beneficiaries of the social package.

In the scope of the program 2,183 males aged 40-70 has undergone medical examination for prostate cancer. The test data showed that 1248 (57,2%) examined people had low risk of the disease, while the risk was high for 935 (42,8%) with 585 (62,6%) of them recommended continuous supervision and repeat examinations once in a year. Additionally, various deflections were detected in 350 (37,2%) of the examined patients.  Four people have been diagnosed with prostate metastatic cancer.  

Within the government sponsored medical care program free consultation of urologist, examination of the prostate-specific antigen, tomography of internal structures, uranium examination were provided.

Tsaghik Vardanyan stressed that women health is emphasized, yet men often lack attention and medical examination, which was the reason for choosing males as a target group for the screening.

“As it was revealed every second examined male had health problem,” Vardanyan noted, adding the data suggest that the screening program should be continuous and also expand its geography to include Armenia’s provinces.

Urologist Hrachik Petrosyan present at the meeting, said the study data cause concern, since they clearly indicate that every second male is in the group of the high risk.  

“That means they may face prostate cancer in the coming years, which necessitates examination at least once in a year,” the urologist said, adding the prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men. At the initial phase of the disease the complains and symptoms are not vivid, which is why the disease is diagnosed at later stages.
To him, the sooner the disease is detected, the higher is the possibility of its complete treatment. In the specialist’s words the risk causes for cancer may vary from the age smoking, and fatness. The genetics factor is of great significance as well.