Main Category: Prostate / Prostate Cancer
Also Included In: Men's health
Article Date: 17 Nov 2011 - 5:00 PST
The Cancer Council NSW will present evidence of research at the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia (COSA) Annual Scientific Meeting that GPs were prescribing tests to screen men above the age of 75 years for prostate cancer, despite the fact that there is likely to be no benefit.
Each year one in five Australian men between the age of 75 to 84 years is tested for prostate cancer against international guidelines, which recommend not to test patients in this age bracket.
Lead researcher, Professor Dianne O'Connell stated that according to previous evidence, suggested prostate cancer in men above the age of 75 years was progressing slowly and they were far more likely to die from other causes. She added: "A positive test in this group may do more harm than good."
Although the majority of men in this age bracket will have prostate cancer, it will never cause a problem for most, yet discovering that they have prostate cancer often means they will opt for treatment, which in turn means they are exposing themselves to a high risk of serious side-effects, such as incontinence and impotency.
Professor O'Connell explained:
"Organizations around the world offer varying guidelines about when men should begin testing for prostate cancer, if at all. But there is consensus that from age 75, men who do not have a life expectancy of at least 10 years, should not be screened."
According to screening data obtained from Medicare claims, 20% of men aged between 75 to 84 years surveyed received a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood-screening test in the previous year, with 35% of men receiving the test in the previous two years.
Dr O'Connell stated:
"We don't have information from doctors about what is driving the decision-making process. This should be investigated, along with the reasons why doctors continue to order these tests for men in this age bracket."
COSA President, Professor Bogda Koczwara commented that there had been a worldwide debate over the value of PSA test. She referred to a statement made by Doctor Richard Albin, the test's founder, who recently called it a ''hugely expensive public health disaster'' and ''hardly more effective than a coin toss''.
She added:
"While there are disparate views of whether or not the PSA test is of benefit, there is broad consensus that we should not be testing men over age 75. So it is concerning that this sound advice is not getting through."
Written by Petra Rattue
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
MLA
Petra Rattue. "Prostate Cancer Screening Carried Out On 20% Of Males Aged Over 75 Years, Australia." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 17 Nov. 2011. Web.
18 Nov. 2011. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/237864.php>
APA
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I had a PSA test at age 70, subsequent biopsy. Confirmed cancer, spread to abdominal lymph glands. Gleeson index 9 - 2 to 10 years survival prediction. Went on to hormone treatment, bit uncomfortable. PSA dropped to zero and stayed there for 2 years. Discontinued treatment until PSA rises to 10. 2 more years and PSA is still only 2. I'm a believer and will have PSA test ecery 6 months for the rest of my life
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