New guidelines in screening for prostate cancer

Lives will be saved by new guidelines for prostate screening to be drawn up by the Ministry of Health next year, according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

The ministry's move to create a "guidance document" for doctors to better broach prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing with their patients was last week welcomed by the foundation.

PSA testing measures a protein produced by prostate gland cells. Elevated levels are seen as an indicator of cancer.

The foundation had been concerned that current advice, which does not recommend population screening for prostate cancer, was seen to dissuade doctors from discussing prostate cancer with men until they had symptoms.

"When you do begin to have symptoms, it is frequently too late for effective treatment," said president Barry Young.

About 3000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, with 600 deaths. Mr Young said early diagnosis would halve the casualty rate.

John Childs, the ministry's principal adviser for cancer control, said the tests are available to all those who wish to be tested.

Mr Young said the tests were as effective as breast cancer screening, and are only one in a series of tests to confirm a diagnosis of prostate cancer.

The foundation will be working closely with the ministry and specialist groups to produce the document.