Prostate testing is working
November 16, 2010
THE Prostate Cancer Foundation
of Australia has hit back at claims
in the Sydney Morning Herald
which cast doubts on the benefits of
current prostate cancer testing.
According to the PCFA, the
newspaper printed a story about a
book currently in the pipeline which
outlays doubts about two types of
tests: the blood test (a prostatespecific
antigen or PSA test) and a
manual examination (a digital
rectal examination or DRE).
“There is evidence that this
approach will save lives in the
future and we are keen to clarify
these recommendations for
Australian men,” said Andrew
Giles, wceo of the Prostate Cancer
Foundation of Australia.
“A recent study from Sweden
published this year in the Lancet1
which included 20,000 men
showed that death from prostate
cancer was reduced almost by half
over 14 years in the group that
were encouraged to take PSA tests.
“Every 12 men diagnosed
translated into the saving of one
death from prostate cancer,”
The two tests at issue are
designed as “useful indicators” of
elevated risk and allow men to
make informed decisions on an
induvidual basis, a statement from
the PCFA said.
“We are advocating informed
voluntary risk assessment on an
individual basis in the form of a test
which provides an indication of risk
– not widespread compulsory
screening,” Giles said.
At present research is underway
to develop a more specific test
which would distinguish between
indolent and aggressive cancers.
“In the meantime, Australian
men should be encouraged to seek
tests that help define their individual
risk of prostate cancer,” Giles added.
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