Prostate Cancer - Risk
Management Programme.
There is no national screening test for prostate cancer in England, so one of
the main aims of the programme is to ensure men who are concerned about prostate
cancer,
and considering a prostate specific antigen test (PSA) are given clear and
balanced information about the benefits, limitations and risks associated with
the test.
What do we know about prostate cancer?
It is the second
most common cause of cancer deaths in men. Each year in the UK
about 22,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and 9,500 die from the
disease. Prostate cancer is rare in men below 50 years of age, and the average
age
of diagnosis is 75 years.
Are some men more at risk of developing prostate cancer?
The biggest risk
factor is age. However other factors may play a part. Risk is greater
in those with a family history and is also known to be greater in African
American men.
A diet high in animal fats and proteins may also increase the risk of developing
prostate cancer.
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
Men with early
prostate cancer are unlikely to have symptoms as these only occur when the
cancer is large enough to disturb bladder function or put pressure on the
urethra
(the canal that conveys urine from the bladder away from the body).
Symptoms can include:
- Having to rush to the toilet to pass urine
- Passing urine more often and/or at night
- Difficulty starting the flow of urine
- Starting and stopping whilst passing urine
- Discomfort (pain or burning) whilst passing urine
- A feeling of not having emptied the bladder fully
- Dribbling of urine
- Blood in urine or semen
- Pain in the hips, back or pelvis
What is the PSA test?
The PSA test can
give an early indication that prostate cancer may be present. It is a
test that measures the level of PSA a substance made by the prostate gland, in
the
blood stream.
What are the limitations of the test?
The PSA test is
not diagnostic because other conditions such as benign enlargement
of the prostate, prostatitis and lower urinary tract infections can also cause
an elevated PSA.
Approximately 2 out of 3 men with a raised PSA level will not have prostate
cancer.
The higher the
level of PSA the more likely it is to be cancer.
The PSA test can miss cancer, and provide false reassurance. It can lead to
unnecessary anxiety and medical tests when no cancer is present.
The benefits of the test:
It may provide reassurance if the test result is normal and may find cancer before symptoms develop. If prostate cancer is detected at an early stage, treatment could be beneficial. If treatment is successful, the consequences of more advanced cancer are avoided.
Men who need assistance in making a decision on whether to take the test will find the
DIPEx PSA online resource very useful. The website provides first hand experiences of men who have had the test.
They explain the requesting of the test, completing it, waiting for and receiving the results and making any treatment choices.
Their choices and experiences are presented in video, audio and written formats.
For further information please contact Andrea Whitfield, Sarah Gibbs or Caroline Geenaway in the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes’ press office on 0207 282 2922 or e-mail: screening@westminster.com
Further full information is
available on
http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk