Increasing number of prostate cancer cases among Australian men sparks concerns about over-diagnosis

Updated

A massive increase in prostate cancer cases in Australian men has led to concerns about over-diagnosis and unnecessary treatment.

Research conducted by the Cancer Council of New South Wales found the number of men diagnosed with the disease increased by more than 250 per cent in the 20 years to 2007.

However, report author and Associate Professor Freddie Sitas said lifestyle factors are not to blame for the increase. Instead, he says it is due to the fact that so many men are having a PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test and digital rectal exam.

The Australian government and Cancer Council have said there is insufficient evidence for population-based screening for prostate cancer and advises men to discuss individual risk factors with their doctor.

But Associate Professor Sitas said the PSA is an imperfect test.

"The current tests often fail to distinguish between a low-risk prostate cancer and one that is life-threatening," he said.

"These tests do and have saved men with aggressive forms of the disease, but at a high cost when measured against the number of likely over-diagnoses."

He said the study found the increased number of men being diagnosed means many are having highly invasive treatment, potentially resulting in unnecessary long-term health complications.

"A reduction in mortality rates was observed over the study period; however, the increase in new cases was much greater than the 27 per cent drop in prostate cancer deaths," he said.

Associate Professor Sitas said this reflects the inaccuracy of the screening tests and indicates that many men were diagnosed with cancer that would not have harmed them.

He said a more accurate prostate cancer test is needed so doctors can save more lives without so many being diagnosed with cancers that will not harm them.

Professor Mark Harris from the University of New South Wales Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity said men would like to have any prostate cancer detected and treated early.

"Unfortunately, the current test fully identifies many men without cancer or some [who] would remain without symptoms for the rest of their lives," he said.

The research is published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology.

Know more? Contact investigations@abc.net.au

Topics: medical-procedures, medical-research, diseases-and-disorders, health, health-policy, mens-health, australia

First posted