The Great PSA Debate – a breakthrough for early detection?
On November 10th 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 (i.e. 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 6 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%.
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 [etc.] 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 and two of the UK’s largest charities working in this field are at last able to sing the same tune. We intend to build on this unprecedented consensus and exert pressure on the Dept of Health to move things forward.
A further significant outcome from the debate was the emergence of a potential approach to risk assessment 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.
A full report of the debate will be published in the January edition of Prostate Matters.
Details of the speakers and downloadable versions of their presentations may be downloaded from here.
The Prostate Cancer Support Federation is a member of
This page was updated on 17th November 2009
