A FIFE prostate cancer patient faces having to travel to London – just to get a scan.

The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, has described his life as like "waiting on a time bomb" after Health Minister Jeane Freeman confirmed that, at present, Scotland has no PSMA (Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen) gallium PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scans available for men who have advanced prostate cancer.

Ms Freeman made the revelation in reply to Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser following an enquiry by a constituent of Mr Fraser.

The Health Minister said that certain types of cancer, such as some specific prostate and neuroendocrine cancers, required PSMA gallium PET scans that use different radiopharmaceuticals that are not available routinely in Scotland at present.

This means that Mr Fraser’s constituent is faced with the daunting prospect of travelling to London to get a scan.

The constituent said: “I feel as if my life is like waiting on a time bomb. It is ridiculous expecting someone to have to travel down to London to get a scan, when there should be an available machine in Scotland.

“I would have to travel to London by a sleeper train as I will be getting radiotherapy for the cancer so can’t travel by plane. The cost of the train journey plus a taxi to the hospital and back to the rail station will be around £500 – it is scandalous.

“I paid my taxes when I worked and looked after my parents when they were older, as I was able to, but now you feel so let down by the system when you’re told the only place you can get a PSMA scan is down in London. This disgraceful matter needs highlighted to let all Scottish men know the situation.”

Mr Fraser described the lack of adequate scanners for advanced prostate cancer sufferers in Scotland as an “utter disgrace.”

The Scottish Conservative politician said: “The fact that there is not one suitable scanner in Scotland for those men who have advanced prostate cancer is an utter disgrace and yet again underlines how the SNP have failed to properly fund health services in the country.

“The letter from the Health Minister suggests that the installation of the required PSMA-PET equipment has been delayed due to the pandemic but I know the Scottish Government announced this back in June 2019 so this has been too long a wait for many people.

“As a result, my constituent, who is a pensioner, has been told he will have to travel down to London and back, and due to having radiotherapy treatment he will really only be able to do that by train, which is totally out of order, especially during this pandemic.”

Mr Fraser continued: “It’s important that there is an awareness of prostate cancer. Prostate Cancer UK have said that around 12,000 men lost their lives to prostate cancer last year and they have highlighted the problem the need for a screening programme.

“The key to earlier diagnosis is a screening programme.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Cancer services can often involve specialist care or treatment which may not be available at each cancer centre across the country.

"We are absolutely committed to cancer patients being treated as close to home as is clinically appropriate.

"In a very small number of cases, some highly-specialist services may be delivered outwith Scotland, and patients should be fully supported in accessing this.

“As we announced in Spring 2019, we are continuing to work towards providing PSMA-PET scans in Scotland, with work ongoing to establish this specialist service in Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen and Glasgow.

"Diagnosing and treating cancer remain a priority, which we have supported in a new cancer recovery plan with a planned investment of up to £114.5 million over the next two years.”