The results of a long-term Swedish trial, recently published in the British Medical Journal, may suggest that prostate screening is causing more harm than good, according to University of Otago Associate Professor Brian Cox.
The research showed that even long-term screening did not significantly reduce mortality rates of prostate cancer. Prof Cox believes New Zealand men not presenting with symptoms of prostate cancer should not be tested, and suggests that over-diagnosis is the greater danger, since surgical and radiotherapy treatments to remove prostate cancer often result in impotence and incontinence.
Prof Cox also called for limiting those able to perform the test to urologists, oncologists, and surgeons. He told the Otago Daily Times that “it is hoped that in the future a suitable test will be found...unfortunately we are not there yet”.
Prostate screening
