Yet a new large-scale study has found an alarming trend among men — they’re skipping prostate cancer screenings. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men, behind skin cancer. Together, these findings demonstrate that men who skip screening are at greatly increased risk of dying from this disease. European researchers organised the study to demonstrate the importance of regular screenings. Such screenings are significant in detecting prostate cancer early on when the disease is more easily treated.
The conclusion of the study is that men at normal risk should begin their first prostate screening at age 50. For people with greater risk factors, they may need to start as early as 40 years old. Unfortunately, even with these recommendations, about 16% of men in the trial ended up missing all their screenings. This disturbing statistic reflects a shocking 45% increased rate of death from prostate cancer. This risk is in those who were non-attenders for their screenings versus attenders for their screenings.
The Importance of Screening
Prostate cancer screenings are an important weapon in the war against this often devastating disease. The American Cancer Society, in the spirit of preventative healthcare, continues to support these screenings as a critical component of men’s healthcare. When caught early, patients have access to more effective treatment options and higher survival rates.
By stressing the need for patients to show up for screenings, Geoffrey Sonn, MD, nearly singlehandedly turned around an otherwise abysmal screening rate. He noted that non-attenders can negate the positive effects of screening, causing real harm to people who do attend. This underscores the point that the actions of people can make a powerful difference in affecting the aggregate numbers and results connected to prostate cancer.
Though the data supports the need for screening, patient uptake is still a significant barrier. Too often, men ignore health, not prioritizing taking care of themselves and their overall wellbeing. As a result, they skip critical screening appointments. This reluctance can have dire consequences.
Behavioral Barriers to Screening
The study’s results indicate that behavioral constructs play a large role in screening participation. Men who are averse to caring for their health are more likely not to just miss screenings but not take part in other important preventative measures as well. Renée Leenen, MD, answered this head-on. She noted the difficulty in converting theoretical approaches into successful strategies that can actually connect with men from different cultures and socioeconomic statuses.
This policy announcement stresses the importance of new, creative approaches to inspire men to focus on their health and get the screenings they need. As the healthcare community continues to find ways to better serve the growing population of prostate cancer patients, confronting these behavioral barriers will be key.
Implications of the Findings
Beyond just the harmful impacts of congestion, potential interpretation of the new study’s implications are profound. Jeffrey Tosoian, MD, MPH, noted the significance of this research in dispelling previous concerns regarding the effectiveness of PSA testing: “This is the type of long-term randomized data that helps to put to rest the prior concerns that PSA testing may not be effective.”
Robert Smith, PhD, conceded the harms of prostate cancer screenings, such as anxiety and overtreatment. He went on to stress that there’s unequivocal evidence that these screenings can save lives. Yet he quickly pivoted to noting that the balance of benefits and harms still is very much a key factor to consider.
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