Men who avoid prostate cancer screening appointments face much higher risk of disease
A new study has found that men who consistently avoid prostate cancer screening appointments are 45% more likely to die from the disease. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths, according to UC San Francisco (UCSF). However, experts say that if national screening programs are implemented, particularly those that measure levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood, men could have earlier access to treatment and a better chance of being cured.
Screening programs can also help prevent costly treatments associated with advanced prostate cancer. The European Randomised Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) collects data from seven European nations and is considered the world’s largest prostate cancer screening study. Long-term data from the ERSPC consistently shows that PSA screening programs can lead to a 20% reduced risk of dying from prostate cancer.
A recent analysis of 20-year follow-up data from the ERSPC revealed a stark contrast in the risks associated with declining screening invitations. Of the 72,460 men invited to screenings, around one in six consistently skipped appointments. This group had a 45% higher risk of dying from prostate cancer compared to those who attended screenings. When compared to a control group that was never invited to screenings, attendees had a 23% lower risk of dying, while non-attenders faced a 39% higher risk.
Lead study author Renée Leenen, M.D., Ph.D., from the Erasmus MC Cancer Institute in the Netherlands, noted that the choice not to participate in screening may be influenced by a variety of factors. Men who avoid screening appointments may be less likely to engage in healthy behaviors and preventative care in general. Understanding why men choose not to attend screenings and how to motivate them is crucial in designing effective population-based prostate cancer screening programs.
Urologist Tobias Nordström, M.D., Ph.D., of the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, emphasized the importance of understanding why men choose not to participate in screenings and how this behavior is linked to worse outcomes. The study findings are set to be presented at the European Association of Urology (EAU) Congress in Madrid, Spain.
Regular medical screenings are essential in diagnosing prostate cancer early for better outcomes. Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News’ senior medical analyst, has highlighted the importance of early diagnosis in improving outcomes for prostate cancer patients. Researchers and experts continue to stress the significance of regular prostate cancer screenings in reducing mortality rates and improving treatment outcomes.
