UPDATE - Issue 39 - Winter 2010
The Great PSA Debate – a breakthrough for early detection?
Sandy Tindale-Biscoe, Chairman of the Prostate Cancer Support Federation, reports
On 10 November 2009, in Leamington Spa, the Prostate Cancer Support Federation, in collaboration with Prostate UK and the Graham Fulford Charitable Trust, held The Great PSA Debate, to discuss the motion: ‘Every man at risk of prostate disease (ie. all men over 50, and those 40 with other risk factors) should be encouraged to check his PSA every year.’
Nearly 100 representatives of patient groups joined in the debate with a panel of six experts representing clinicians, charities and patients. With such an audience, it was not surprising that, at both the start and the end of the day, the votes on the actual motion were overwhelmingly passed with only those formally opposing the motion voting against it. However, the number who would call for formal screening reduced over the day from 78% to 59%.
We intend to build on this unprecedented consensus and exert pressure on the Department of Health
After an afternoon session that concentrated on looking for points of consensus, a vote on an alternative motion: ‘Every man at risk of prostate disease (ie. all men over 50, and those 40 with other risk factors) should be made aware of the PSA test, its benefits and limitations and should be able to freely exercise his right to have it’ was carried unanimously, with one abstention. This is a significant breakthrough, as it means that patients, two of the UK’s largest charities working in this field and clinicians have reached a strong consensus. We intend to build on this unprecedented consensus and exert pressure on the Department of Health to move things forward.
A further significant outcome from the debate was the emergence of a potential approach to risk assessment to determine the likelihood of agressive forms of prostate cancer. This could take into consideration certain risk factors which, in combination with PSA testing of appropriate men, might have a significant impact on the early diagnosis of dangerous cancers, whilst not diagnosing irrelevant ones.