Download Men facing major hurdles in accessing simple test to help diagnose

News Release
Embargoed until: 00.01hrs, Tuesday 1st March 2011
Ref:NR01211
Date: 28 February 2011
Men facing major hurdles in accessing
simple test to help diagnose prostate cancer
A lack of knowledge and scepticism among some GPs are major hurdles for men in exercising
their right to request a simple test, which remains the first line of defence in the fight against
prostate cancer, new research has revealed today (Tuesday 1 March).
Data commissioned by The Prostate Cancer Charity, to time with the launch of its annual
awareness month, shows a bleak picture of barriers faced by men in accessing the Prostate
Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test.
Despite having become a topic of intense medical and public debate over recent years, two
thirds of men at an increased risk of prostate cancer, are still unaware of the test, which is a
first step in diagnosing problems with the gland, that might be prostate cancer*.
Under current NHS guidelines, men over the age of 50 have the right to ask for a PSA test if
they have had a balanced discussion with their doctor about its pros and cons. Yet, a further
survey** by the Charity has exposed the fact that one in ten GPs do not support this right, and
one in five GPs never talk about the PSA test with at-risk groups***, unless they have potential
symptoms of prostate cancer. This is particularly important as many men diagnosed with the
disease will not display any signs of this disease.
Despite the lack of knowledge among men about the PSA test, more than half of GPs
surveyed do not support more pro-active discussion with them about the test.
The usefulness of screening men for prostate cancer using the PSA test has divided medical
opinion. Experts struggle to reconcile the benefits of reducing deaths from prostate cancer by
up to 30% through screening,**** with the risks of diagnosing and over-treating some men
who have a slow-growing form of the disease that would not harm them in their lifetime.
Confusion is compounded by evidence that only just over one third of GPs are even aware of
the official guidance to them - the Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme - on
counselling symptom-free men who request the PSA test, although symptoms are not always
present in this complex disease.
The Charity is using the awareness month to launch its ‘Testing Choices’ campaign, which will
call for an urgent improvement in the current system. The Charity wants to see all men over
50, and younger men at a higher risk of prostate cancer, be given access to balanced
information and the one to one support necessary to make an informed choice about whether
or not to have the PSA test.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in
men in the UK. 37,000 men are diagnosed with
prostate cancer every year and one man dies
every hour of the disease.
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John Neate, Chief Executive of The Prostate Cancer Charity, explains: “We know that the
PSA test can play an important role for some men in identifying aggressive prostate cancers
at a stage at which they can be successfully treated. At the same time, widespread use of the
test can also result in slow-growing, harmless cancers being detected, leading to unnecessary
treatments and side-effects. This balance of benefits and risks means that it is essential that
every man should be enabled to make his own, personal, informed choice about whether the
test is right for him.
"The lack of knowledge by so many men about the PSA test, reinforced by our latest research,
is a completely unacceptable inequality in our society and can no longer be tolerated. GPs
must begin to engage men much more pro-actively in discussions about prostate cancer, their
risk of the disease and the role of the PSA test. They must never stand in the way of a man's
right to make a personal, informed choice about having the test.
"Whilst we agree with the recent decision of the UK National Screening Committee not to
support prostate cancer screening with the PSA test, we do believe that a critical opportunity
to fully address the inequities faced by men seeking access to it has been missed.
Government has been highly reluctant to promote awareness of the rights of men at risk of
prostate cancer to access the test. The status quo, in which so many men remain unaware,
cannot continue. It is unethical that it should. This is why we are launching ‘Testing Choices’.
The Prostate Cancer Charity urges Government to work with the Charity to develop new
mechanisms to engage men in discussion about prostate health, the risk of prostate cancer
and the role of the PSA test in managing that risk.”
This year, The Prostate Cancer Charity is using Prostate Cancer Awareness Month to call on
people across the country to declare ‘I’m aware’ to help highlight that many men are still
subject to a legacy of neglect, ranging from difficulties in diagnosis through to limited access
to information and support to help them cope with the impact of treatment for the disease.
Anyone wanting more information can visit www.prostateaware.org.uk
ENDS
Case studies and Charity spokespeople are available for comment.
For further information contact: Vivienne Francis, Nikki Nagler or Claire Blackburn on 0208
222
7136/7670/7687.
Email:
[email protected]
or
[email protected]. Out of hours contact: 0798 432 5001.
For a full copy of the research please contact The Prostate Cancer Press Office.
*ICM Research interviewed a random sample of 1,000 men aged 50+ by telephone in
February 2011, on behalf of The Prostate Cancer Charity. Interviews were carried out to
reflect the age and regional profiles of the over 50’s male population in Britain. ICM is a
member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Further information at
www.icmresearch.co.uk
** Kantar Health conducted web based interviews on behalf of The Prostate Cancer Charity
with 505 GPs from England and Scotland drawn from TNS healthcare professional panels.
Interviews took place in February 2011. A quota was set to achieve a sample of 94 GPs
based in Scotland. Kantar Health is a member of the Market Research Society and this study
has been conducted in accordance with ISO 20252. Further information at
www.kantarhealth.com
***Men over 50, or younger men with a family history of the disease. African Caribbean men
are three times more likely to develop prostate cancer than white men.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in
men in the UK. 37,000 men are diagnosed with
prostate cancer every year and one man dies
every hour of the disease.
Page 2 of 3
****European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC). Schröder, F H
et al. Screening and Prostate-Cancer Mortality in a Randomized European Study. New
England Journal of Medicine 2009: 360;13.
Notes to Editors:
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men in the UK. Every year in the
UK 37,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. One man dies every hour of prostate
cancer in the UK.
The Prostate Cancer Charity is striving for a world where lives are no longer limited by
prostate cancer. The Charity is fighting prostate cancer on every front - through research,
support, information and campaigning.
If you have any queries about prostate cancer, call The Prostate Cancer Charity's confidential
Helpline 0800 074 8383 which is staffed by specialist nurses and open from 10am to 4pm
Monday to Friday and Wednesdays from 7 - 9pm or visit www.prostate-cancer.org.uk
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in
men in the UK. 37,000 men are diagnosed with
prostate cancer every year and one man dies
every hour of the disease.
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