Press release -
The UK National Screening Committee must follow Australia’s lead and increase clarity in PSA guidelines
Prostate Cancer UK is today (4th December 2014) calling on the UK National Screening Committee to provide more clarity on PSA testing guidelines. This would help ensure men at increased risk of prostate cancer are more supported by their GP to decide whether to have a test, and how often.
The UK’s leading men’s health charity is making this call in light of the new draft guidelines on PSA testing released today by the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and Cancer Council Australia1.
Current UK guidelines on PSA testing are set out in the Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme (PCRMP)2. These are due to be reviewed by the UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC). Prostate Cancer UK regularly hears from both clinicians, who find the programme confusing, and men who are not satisfied with their experience of it.
Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of Prostate Cancer UK said: “The PSA test is far from perfect but while it remains the best first step in a prostate cancer diagnosis everything must be done to maximize its benefits and reduce its harms. Despite this, UK clinicians are currently forced to grapple with skeleton guidance on PSA testing which is hard to interpret and leaves them unsupported to advise men on crucial decisions about prostate cancer tests.
“Today’s new guidelines give doctors in Australia exactly the kind of clarity around best practice for PSA testing that we want for men and doctors in the UK. We call on the UK National Screening Committee to follow Australia’s lead and take a similarly comprehensive look at its own guidelines so that health professionals and men in the UK are properly equipped to navigate this minefield. UK men at risk of prostate cancer are getting a raw deal. We must not miss this golden opportunity to make positive change.”
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Topics
- Health Organisations
Categories
- prostate cancer
- owen sharp
- psa testing
Notes to editors
(1) The draft evidence-based prostate cancer testing guidance for the male population of Australia is being announced at the 2014 World Cancer Congress in Australia. Recommendations include:
• For men informed of the benefits and harms of screening who wish to undergo regular testing, offer PSA testing every two years from age 50 to age 69, and offer further investigation if the PSA is greater than 3.0 ng/ml.
• Stating that if a man is at a 2.5 - 3 times higher than average risk, due to the presence of risk factors, offer testing every two years from age 45.
(2) Current UK guidelines in the PCRMP state that:
• Any man over the age of 50 who asks for a PSA test after careful consideration of the implications should be given one.
• GPs are also given guidance as to when to refer a man for biopsy, based on his age and PSA test result.
• There are currently no guidelines which suggest a different protocol for men at higher than average risk, or how to monitor a man who requests repeat PSA testing.
