PCFA Policy on Testing Asymptomatic Men for Prostate Cancer
PCFA has called for a review of the Clinical Guidelines on PSA Testing.
Click here to read more.
The existing guidelines were released in 2016 and recommend:
- Men should be offered the opportunity to consider and discuss the benefits and harms of PSA testing before making the decision whether or not to be tested.
- The harms of PSA testing may outweigh the benefits, particularly for men aged 70 and older.
- Men at average risk of prostate cancer who decide to undergo regular testing should be offered PSA testing every 2 years from age 50 to 69.
- Men with a family history of prostate cancer who decide to be tested should be offered PSA testing every 2 years from age 40 to 45 to 69, with the starting age depending on the strength of their family history.
- Digital rectal examination is not recommended for asymptomatic men as a routine addition to PSA testing in the primary care setting, but remains an important part of specialist assessment.
The summary of these recommendations can be accessed here:
www.prostate.org.au/media/611493/PSA-Testing-Guidelines-Short-Form.pdf
The full version of these clinical guidelines can be accessed here:
www.prostate.org.au/media/612113/PSA-Testing-Guidelines.pdf
Please email enquiries@pcfa.org.au for more information.
References
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for Prostate Cancer: In Progress:
https://screeningforprostatecancer.org/ - AUA response to the review of PSA screening guidelines by U.S. Preventive Services Task Force:
http://auanet.mediaroom.com/2017-04-11-AUA-Responds-to-USPSTF-Draft-Recommendations-on-Screening-for-Prostate-Cancer
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2259453-overview - European Association of Urology Recommendation (2017): N. Mottet (Chair), J. Bellmunt, E. Briers (Patient Representative), M. Bolla, L. Bourke, P. Cornford (Vice-chair), M. De Santis, A.M. Henry, S. Joniau, T.B. Lam, M.D. Mason, H.G. van der Poel, T.H. van der Kwast, O. Rouvière, T. Wiegel
Guidelines Associates: N. Arfi, R.C.N.. van den Bergh, T. van den Broeck, M. Cumberbatch, N. Fossati, T. Gross, M. Lardas, M. Liew, P. Moldovan, I.G. Schoots, P.M. Willemse
http://uroweb.org/guideline/prostate-cancer/