Men in Matson and the surrounding area are being encouraged to book a prostate cancer test at a special screening event taking place at Matson Rugby Club later this month.
The event will run from 6pm to 9pm on Wednesday, 18 March 2026, and is open to local men aged 45 to 69. Testing will be carried out by nurses from The Graham Fulford Charitable Trust as part of a national programme marking National Prostate Cancer Screening Day on 21 March.
The screening uses a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test, which involves taking a small blood sample. Results are sent confidentially to participants, along with guidance on what the results mean and whether a follow-up with their GP may be needed.
Each appointment costs £12.50, subsidised through funding from Prostate Cancer Research.
Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer affecting men in the UK, with one in eight men diagnosed during their lifetime. Early detection can significantly improve survival rates, but in the South West nearly 17% of cases are diagnosed at stage four, when the disease is much harder to treat.
Men with a family history of prostate cancer and Black men face a higher risk and are particularly encouraged to consider testing.
Although there is currently no national NHS screening programme for prostate cancer, men can request a PSA test through their GP.
Advance booking is required and spaces close the day before the event. Appointments can be booked online at: https://pcr.mypsatests.org.uk/.