Here is the latest American Cancer Society Prostate Cancer Screening
Guidelines press release.
Please leave comments about these guidelines, by clicking to comment here
Update Reaffirms the Importance of Shared Decision-Making
ATLANTA –March 3, 2010 – Newly updated prostate cancer screening guidelines from
the American Cancer Society reaffirm the recommendation that men should discuss the
uncertainties, risks and potential benefits of screening for prostate cancer before deciding
whether to be tested. The update is the first since 2001 and was done as part of the
Society’s regular guidelines update process. It included a series of systematic reviews
focusing on the latest evidence related to the early detection of prostate cancer, screening
test performance, harms of therapy for localized prostate cancer, and shared and informed
decision making in prostate cancer screening.
The guideline is published online in advance of print publication in CA: A Cancer
Journal for Clinicians. The updated guidelines include these recommendations:
*Asymptomatic men who have at least a ten-year life expectancy should
have an opportunity to make an informed decision with their health care
provider about screening for prostate cancer after receiving information
about the uncertainties, risks, and potential benefits associated with
screening.
*Men at average risk should receive this information beginning at age 50.
Men at higher risk, including African American men and men with a first
degree relative (father or brother) diagnosed with prostate cancer before
age 65, should receive this information beginning at age 45. Men at
appreciably higher risk (multiple family members diagnosed with prostate
cancer before age 65) should receive this information beginning at age 40.
*Men should either receive this information directly from their health care
providers or be referred to reliable and culturally appropriate sources.
*Patient decision aids are helpful in preparing men to make a decision
whether to be tested.
*Prostate cancer screening should not occur without an informed decision
making process.
*Asymptomatic men who have less than a ten-year life expectancy based
on age and health status should not be offered prostate cancer screening.
*For men who are unable to decide, the screening decision can be left to the
discretion of the health care provider, who should factor into the decision
his or her knowledge of the patient’s general health preferences and
values.