Welsh soft drinks manufacturer Radnor Hills has been supporting Prostate Cymru by holding PSA testing days at its headquarters to encourage men across Powys – and its own staff – to get checked.
More than 220 men had their PSA tested, including 60 colleagues from Radnor Hills.
Prostate Cymru is the leading charity dedicated to prostate health in Wales. This year is the second year of its intensive regional roadshow, and the charity has visited ten locations across Wales to provide subsidised Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood tests to men at risk.
The charity has reported that despite the fact prostate cancer often presents with no symptoms, many men are finding it difficult to access a free PSA test from their GP.
The simple and quick test checks the level of prostate-specific antigen in a man’s blood and high levels can be a sign of a prostate condition.
Simon Knight, managing director of Radnor Hills, was one of the men to be tested. He said: “More than 2,500 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in Wales and almost a fifth find out too late to be cured. Early detection can make a significant difference.
“It’s why I joined many of my Radnor Hills colleagues to have the simple and quick blood test. Prostate Cymru tested 60 of our colleagues and then we opened our Knighton headquarters to host a screening day for the public.
“It’s a really important test to take and particularly meaningful for me as I have a good friend who was diagnosed with prostate cancer, has been through all the treatment and has just been given the all clear.
“As a company, we’re proud to have partnered Prostate Cymru. As a rural based business ourselves, we’re aware that our locality has lower rates of PSA testing and this can lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment. A PSA test can help identify risk early.”
Radnor Hills has worked with Prostate Cymru for a number of years, providing them with free water at their events to keep them hydrated, offering raffle prizes for their roadshows and completing big walks to raise funds for them.
