A twenty years study found that prostate cancer screening test does not save lives. In UK one in four newly diagnosed cancers in men had prostate cancer. The organization that controls screening in UK advised against routine screening. Prostate cancer claims thousands of lives every year worldwide.
In the recent study conducted by researchers from Sweden which followed more than nine thousand males aged between fifty and sixty. About fifteen hundred males were arbitrarily selected for screening every three years between 1987 and 1996. The first two tests were carried out by digital rectal examination and then by prostate specific antigen testing.
The results of the study concluded that after twenty years of follow up, the death rates from prostate cancers did not fluctuate considerably between males in screening group and those who were in control group. The preferential technique of screening is the PSA-prostate specific antigen test. But, about fifteen percent of males with normal levels of prostate specific antigen will have prostate cancer.
The two-thirds of males with higher of PSA levels do not in fact have prostate cancer. According to Dr Anne Mackie, program director from the UK National Screening Committee this proof gives further support for the proposing the Committee made in November not to screen for prostate cancer at this time.
At present the possible harms considerably offset the benefits of screening. They will re-evaluate the substantiation for prostate cancer screening against their criterion again in three years, or earlier if new substantiation necessitates it. This study suggests that screening males for prostate cancer does not reduce the number of men dying from the condition.
This was comparatively a small study and not all the screening rounds used the PSA test, which is the most effective test they have at present to point out prostate problems that might be cancer, explained Dr Sarah Cant, head of policy and campaigns for The Prostate Cancer Charity.
It is known through a large study that screening using PSA test can diminish mortality rates. But, earlier trial showed that screening can escort to many men enduring needless treatment for a harmless prostate cancer. The Prostate Cancer Charity so does not think there is enough substantiation yet to support a screening programme.