Health and Me

Ishita Roy

All Men Should Not Get Screened For Prostrate Cancer, Says UK Screening Committees; Who Can?

Screening for all men is "likely to cause more harm than good", says the UK National Committee. This recommendation is based on a clinical trial called Transform, which is now filling gaps in the evidence on how screening could be safely rolled out to other groups.

As of now, as per the recommendation, <strong><em>men who are between the ages of 45 and 61 should be screened every two years, if they have specific genetic mutations called BRCA variants</em></strong>. 

<h2>The UK National Screening Committee recommends:</h2>

<ul><li>No screening for black men due to "uncertainties" around the impact due to a lack of clinical trials in black men</li><li>No screening based on family history</li></ul>

<h2>Why Is The New Recommendation Asking People To Not Get Screened For <span rel="noindex">Prostrate <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/cancer">Cancer</a></span>?</h2>

As per the clinical study and the <span><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/cancer">Cancer</a></span> Research UK, of the 1000 men who get screened between the age of 50 to 60 for PSA test or the prostate-specific antigen test, around 100 have a positive PSA test. Of them, 34 have a positive MRI and receive a biopsy. Then only 28 are diagnosed with prostrate cancer. Of those 28, 10 are offered active surveillance, 13 are offered surgery or radiotherapy, and 4 need surgery or radiotherapy, while 1 need any other treatment. 

However, the Cancer Research UK notes that while 1000 men are screening, and 28 diagnosed, only 2 lives could be saved, with 20 being over diagnosed, this means they have a slow-growing tumor that does not need treating, and of them 12 men will receive treatments that do not benefit them, rather harms them. These harms come in forms like being unable to control your bladder, or maintain an erection. 

<h2>Is Prostrate Cancer Screening Recommendation Fit For All?</h2>

While experts say it is, patients are disappointed. Sir Chris Hoy, a terminal prostrate cancer patient says he was "disappointed and saddened" by the new recommendations as BBC reports.

However, Prof Freddie Hamdy, who is a urological surgeon in Oxford tells BBC: "The diagnosis of prostrate cancer in a healthy man is hugely disruptive event, with potential to affect quality of life, very significantly, for many years."

"It cannot be done lightly, men need to be really well counselled and informed before the 'snowball' starts. Before you know it, you are on the operating table having your prostate removed – and we see examples of that all the time," he said. 

The screening committee’s decision is not final. It marks the beginning of a three-month public consultation period, after which the committee will reconvene and present its final recommendations to ministers in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Each nation will then make its own decision on prostate screening.

England’s Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he supports screening “if backed by evidence” and promised to review the data “thoroughly” ahead of the final guidance expected in March.

Reactions to the draft recommendations have been sharply divided. Cancer Research UK welcomed the consideration of screening for men with faulty BRCA genes and agreed that, for most men, screening could currently do more harm than good.

But others strongly disagreed. Sir Chris Hoy said he was “extremely disappointed and saddened,” calling the BRCA-specific recommendation “a very small step forward” that falls short. Sharing his own experience, he emphasised that “early screening and diagnosis saves lives.”

Prostate Cancer UK CEO Laura Kerby also expressed being “deeply disappointed,” saying the decision will “come as a blow” to tens of thousands of men.

Prostate Cancer Research criticized the move as “a serious error that ignores modern evidence,” calling it a missed opportunity for Black men and those with a family history.

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Screening for all men is "likely to cause more harm than good", says the UK National Committee. This recommendation is based on a clinical trial called Transform, which is now filling gaps in the evidence on how screening could be safely rolled out to other groups.As of now, as per the recommendation, men who are between the ages of 45 and 61 should be screened every two years, if they have specific genetic mutations called BRCA variants. The UK National Screening Committee recommends:No screening for black men due to "uncertainties" around the impact due to a lack of clinical trials in black menNo screening based on family historyWhy Is The New Recommendation Asking People To Not Get Screened For Prostrate Cancer?As per the clinical study and the Cancer Research UK, of the 1000 men who get screened between the age of 50 to 60 for PSA test or the prostate-specific antigen test, around 100 have a positive PSA test. Of them, 34 have a positive MRI and receive a biopsy. Then only 28 are diagnosed with prostrate cancer. Of those 28, 10 are offered active surveillance, 13 are offered surgery or radiotherapy, and 4 need surgery or radiotherapy, while 1 need any other treatment. However, the Cancer Research UK notes that while 1000 men are screening, and 28 diagnosed, only 2 lives could be saved, with 20 being over diagnosed, this means they have a slow-growing tumor that does not need treating, and of them 12 men will receive treatments that do not benefit them, rather harms them. These harms come in forms like being unable to control your bladder, or maintain an erection. Is Prostrate Cancer Screening Recommendation Fit For All?While experts say it is, patients are disappointed. Sir Chris Hoy, a terminal prostrate cancer patient says he was "disappointed and saddened" by the new recommendations as BBC reports.However, Prof Freddie Hamdy, who is a urological surgeon in Oxford tells BBC: "The diagnosis of prostrate cancer in a healthy man is hugely disruptive event, with potential to affect quality of life, very significantly, for many years.""It cannot be done lightly, men need to be really well counselled and informed before the 'snowball' starts. Before you know it, you are on the operating table having your prostate removed – and we see examples of that all the time," he said. The screening committee’s decision is not final. It marks the beginning of a three-month public consultation period, after which the committee will reconvene and present its final recommendations to ministers in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Each nation will then make its own decision on prostate screening.England’s Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he supports screening “if backed by evidence” and promised to review the data “thoroughly” ahead of the final guidance expected in March.Reactions to the draft recommendations have been sharply divided. Cancer Research UK welcomed the consideration of screening for men with faulty BRCA genes and agreed that, for most men, screening could currently do more harm than good.But others strongly disagreed. Sir Chris Hoy said he was “extremely disappointed and saddened,” calling the BRCA-specific recommendation “a very small step forward” that falls short. Sharing his own experience, he emphasised that “early screening and diagnosis saves lives.”Prostate Cancer UK CEO Laura Kerby also expressed being “deeply disappointed,” saying the decision will “come as a blow” to tens of thousands of men.Prostate Cancer Research criticized the move as “a serious error that ignores modern evidence,” calling it a missed opportunity for Black men and those with a family history.