THE second PSA blood testing event to be held at Launceston Rugby Club will take place tonight (Thursday).

The Graham Fulford Charitable Trust (GFCT) was set up by Graham Fulford to promote awareness of prostate cancer following the diagnosis of a close friend who died at the age of 58 and a close family member who died in 2007 with prostate cancer after a valiant fight.

Since 2004, together with their partners, GFCT have been involved in testing over 89,000 men and conducting over 129,050 tests so far [September 5, 2019]. Consequently, there has been well over 1,600 known cancers identified that otherwise may not have been discovered.

The second such event to be held at Launceston Rugby Club will take place in the Lanson Suite tonight (Thursday) from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

It is a drop-in session and no appointment is necessary.

The PSA test is a blood test which can detect the early signs of prostate cancer.

The test measures the level of PSA (prostate-specific antigen) in your blood. PSA is made by the prostate gland. Some of it will leak into your blood, and the amount depends on your age and the health of your prostate.

A raised PSA level in your blood may show that you have a problem with your prostate. However, this may not be prostate cancer.

Other conditions, such as an enlarged prostate, prostatitis or a urinary infection, can also cause a raised PSA level.

The first event at the club was held in April and it is hoped that anyone who missed that event can get to the club this time.

Crispin Earle from the club, who has helped to organise the testing event, said: “This is run by a voluntary organisation, so a donation is requested, a minimum of £10 would be appreciated.

“I recently received an anonymous letter thanking us for the testing as he turned out to be one of the ‘red’ results. He had no idea that there was a problem, but it is now thankfully under control.”

The testing is aimed at all men over the age of 40.