Telephone tales
In the light of the new findings on the PSA test, we spoke to Suresh Rambaran, one of our Helpline Nurses, to find out whether this has affected work at the Helpline – and the calls he and his colleagues receive.
What are the most common questions people are asking?
Most calls are about treatment – particularly the advantages and disadvantages of differing approaches and what might be appropriate for individual callers. They want reassurance that their doctor has told them everything they need to know and that they have understood it correctly. But the recent press release about the PSA test has also resulted in a lot of callers asking specifically about the test.
What kind of people have been calling?
Most of our calls are from men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer or their partners or relatives – people seeking support and information. Several men have called with specific concerns about the PSA test and are looking for reassurance that the test is still of value in monitoring whether their prostate cancer treatment is working.
What has your response been?
I aim to give the caller a full and precise answer to their questions, but only as much information as they need – and can cope with. The PSA test continues to be a contentious issue as there are so many variables that can influence the merits of the test for each individual. I explain the limitations of the PSA test for screening but reassure callers that it is still very effective for monitoring cancer activity once it is diagnosed. I also offer to send out our own Tool Kit which contains more information – including more on the PSA test. And, of course, I always invite them to call again if they have any additional questions.
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