The scan every man over 65 must have

A COUPLE of weeks ago I received a letter about a free NHS abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening.

This quick and simple scan — offered to men over 65 — checks the aorta, the main artery in the body, for signs of a bulge or aneurysm. If this leaks or ruptures it can cause a catastrophic haemorrhage and rapid death.

The test is offered to men my age (65) and older because we’re at higher risk (women aged over 70 are also included if they have high blood pressure or cholesterol, or a history of heart disease).

The danger of an AAA is that problems can occur suddenly — if your aorta leaks or bursts there’s an 85 per cent chance it will kill you, even if you get to hospital.

A close friend, who is super fit, had a partial aortic rupture before Christmas. He has no

memory of what happened but his wife says he complained of chest pain and became confused.

She rang 999 and he had an emergency operation. He mercifully survived, but months later, he still gets breathless and light-headed when he pushes himself. Although AAAs do not usually cause symptoms, warning signs include a pulsing sensation in the gut (like a heartbeat), gut pain that does not go away and persistent lower back pain — see your doctor if you have these symptoms and are in the at-risk group. If you develop sudden, severe pain in the gut or lower back then you need urgent investigation.

AAA screening will be joining an ever-lengthening list of screening tests I’m having as I get older.

In the past six months I’ve been screened for bowel cancer and had a PSA test for prostate cancer. I also check my blood pressure and blood sugar levels with home kits and keep an eye on my waistline. None of this will guarantee me a long and healthy life, but I hope it all stacks the odds in my favour.