Should I Be Screened?

The question of screening is a personal and complex one. It’s important for each man to talk with his doctor about whether prostate cancer screening is right for him.

There is no unanimous opinion in the medical community regarding the benefits of prostate cancer screening. Those who advocate regular screening believe that finding and treating prostate cancer early offers men more treatment options with potentially fewer side effects.

Those who recommend against regular screening note that because most prostate cancers grow very slowly, the side effects of treatment would likely outweigh any benefit that might be derived from detecting the cancer at a stage when it is unlikely to cause problems.

Recent studies of screening in large U.S. and European populations have suggested that the benefits of screening may not occur for 10 or more years after screening, given the long natural history of prostate cancer. These studies also suggest that many men will need to be screened (over 1,000) and treated (nearly 50) to save one life from prostate cancer.

Ultimately, decisions about screening should be individualized based on a man’s level of risk, overall health, and life expectancy, as well as his desire for eventual treatment if he is diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Latest Recommendations

PCF’s thinking aligns closest with The American Urological Association (AUA) Foundation, which has recently changed and updated screening recommendations. AUA recommendations are similar to those of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), but they differ from those of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).

You can read all of these recommendations at the following links:

AUA: http://www.auanet.org/content/guidelines-and-quality-care/clinical-guidelines/main-reports/psa09.pdf

NCCN: http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/prostate_detection.pdf (login required)

USPSTF: http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/uspsprca.htm  

When to Start—and Stop—Screening

When to start screening is generally based on individual risk, with age 40 being a reasonable time to start screening for those at highest risk (genetic predispositions or strong family histories of prostate cancer at a young age).

For otherwise healthy men at high risk (positive family history or African American men), starting at age 40-45 is reasonable.

Guidelines differ for men at average risk. Some recommend an initial PSA and DRE at age 40, and others recommend starting at age 50. In general, all men should create a proactive prostate health plan that is right for them based on their lifestyle and family history.

When to stop screening is also controversial. Some groups propose 75 as a reasonable cut-off age. Other groups suggest this is an individual decision based on life expectancy and overall current health.

You can find a useful resource for making these decisions at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention site.

Screening and Biopsy

A prostate cancer screening may reveal results that prompt a doctor to recommend a biopsy. There are many other supplementary tests and considerations that can help a man who is undergoing screening decide if a biopsy is necessary, including:

• Lower vs. higher free PSA test
• PSA velocity (rate of rise over time)
• PSA density (PSA per volume of prostate)
• Family history
• Ethnicity
• Prior biopsy findings
• Digital rectal exam results
• Different forms of PSA (i.e. bPSA, pro-PSA)

In general, a lower free PSA (percentage) indicates a higher risk of finding cancer at biopsy, as does a higher PSA velocity and PSA density.

Discuss these individual tests with your doctor to make screening decisions that are best for you.

Where Can I Find Free Prostate Cancer Screening?

Zero: The Project to End Prostate Cancer often conducts free screenings: www.fightprostatecancer.org. Another route is through local hospitals and local prostate cancer support groups. Us TOO has information about support groups: www.ustoo.com  .

The Prostate Conditions Education Council also lists screenings:
http://www.prostateconditions.org/screening-site-finder