PROSTATE CANCER - for
Program Managers and Coalition Members
Screening for
Prostate Cancer
The two most common tests used by physicians to detect prostate cancer are the digital
rectal examination (DRE) and the prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
test. For the DRE, the doctor inserts a gloved and lubricated finger
into the rectum. This allows the doctor to feel the back portion of the prostate
(where most cancers begin) for size and any irregularities. The PSA test is a
blood test that measures the prostate-specific antigen, an enzyme produced only
by the prostate, to see if the PSA level is within normal limits. The doctor
also may use this test to check for any change in PSA level compared to the previous
PSA test.
For more information, please see
CDC publication Prostate Cancer Screening: A Decision
Guide. To download the pdf (228K) please
click here. To read the decsion guide online please
click here
CDC Screening Recommendations
Although there is good evidence that
PSA screening can detect early-stage prostate cancer,
evidence is mixed and inconclusive about whether early
detection improves health outcomes. Additionally, prostate
cancer screening is associated with important harms,
which include anxiety and follow-up procedures based
on test results that sometimes are false-positive, as
well as the complications that may result from treating
prostate cancers that, if left untreated, might not have
affected the man's health.
Because current evidence is insufficient
to determine whether the potential benefits of prostate
cancer screening outweigh important harms, there is
no scientific consensus that such screening is beneficial.
CDC and other federal agencies
follow the prostate cancer screening guidelines set
forth by the U.S.
Preventive Services Task Force, led by the Agency
for Healthcare Research and Quality.
CDC promotes informed decision
making, which occurs when a man understands the nature
and risks of prostate cancer; understands the risks
of, benefits of, and alternatives to screening; participates
in decision making at a level he desires; and makes
a decision consistent with his preferences and values,
or defers the decision to a later time.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
(USPSTF) (August 2008) Summary of Recommendations:
The USPSTF concludes that
the current evidence is insufficient to assess the
balance of benefits and harms of prostate cancer
screening in men younger than age 75 years.
The USPSTF recommends against
screening for prostate cancer in men age 75 years
or older. To go to the USPSTF website please
click here
Screening for Prostate Cancer:
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation
Statement
Ann Intern Med. 2008;149:185-191. 8 pages (pdf 208K).
To download the pdf please
click here
What do we know about diet
and prostate cancer?
The Panel
of WCRF/AICR concludes (Chapter 7.14, page 309) (to
download the chapter 7.14 as pdf please
click here):
Foods containing lycopene, as well as selenium and
foods containing it, probably protect against prostate
cancer. Diets high in calcium are a probable cause
of this cancer. It is unlikely that beta-carotene (whether
from foods or supplements) has a substantial effect
on the risk of this cancer. There is limited evidence
suggesting that pulses (legumes) including soya and
soya products, foods containing vitamin E, and alpha-tocopherol
supplements are protective, and that processed meat,
and milk and dairy products are a cause of this cancer.
Source: Second Expert Report:
Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention
of Cancer: a Global Perspective. World Cancer
Research Fund / American Institute for Cancer Research
(WCRF/AICR), Washington DC: AICR, 2007. 537 Pages.
Note: PDF file of the complete report is 12 MB in size.
More about this report can be found on the “diet” link
[or some other name later] of this website. To download
the entire report (pdf 12MB) please
click here.
• To download a summary of the report (16 pages, pdf
1.2MB) please
click here
• To download the report’s summary
in other languages than English (WCRF website), please
click here
MedlinePlus
- Prostate Cancer Link
MedlinePlus will direct
you to information to help answer health questions. MedlinePlus
brings together authoritative information from NLM, the
National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government
agencies and health-related organizations. MedlinePlus
also has extensive information about drugs, an illustrated
medical encyclopedia, interactive patient tutorials,
and latest health news. Please make sure you check the
MedlinePlus online for prostate cancer with an extensive,
constantly updated resource list. Please
click here
RESOURCES
Siteman
Cancer Center:Prostate Cancer Risk
Questionnaire
Uterine cancer (also called endometrial cancer) is one of the most common cancers
in women. But there are steps women can take to help protect themselves. To estimate
your risk of uterine cancer and learn about ways to lower that risk, take a few
minutes to answer some questions about your health, background, and lifestyle.
To take the questionnaire online please
click here
SCREENING
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
(USPSTF) (August 2008) Summary of Recommendations:
The USPSTF concludes that
the current evidence is insufficient to assess the
balance of benefits and harms of prostate cancer
screening in men younger than age 75 years.
The USPSTF recommends against
screening for prostate cancer in men age 75 years
or older. To go to the USPSTF website please
click here
Screening for Prostate Cancer:
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation
Statement
Ann Intern Med. 2008;149:185-191. 8 pages (pdf 208K).
To download the pdf please
click here
Should
mass screening for prostate cancer be introduced
at the national level? Health Evidence Network (HEN), WHO Regional
Office for Europe, 2004. 12 pages (pdf 116K).
Policy considerations: Mass screening should not be introduced
at the national level, unless supportive evidence is
available from the ongoing screening or treatment trials.
To download the PDF file please
click here. To go to the WHO Europe wesite please
click here
Cancer
Screening in the United States, 2008: A Review of
Current American Cancer Society Guidelines and Cancer
Screening Issues
Robert A. Smith, Vilma Cokkinides, and Otis Webb Brawley.
CA Cancer J Clin 2008 58: 161-179. 20 pages (pdf 161K),
To download the pdf please
click here
American Cancer Society Guideline
for the Early Detection of Prostate Cancer: Update
1997
A. von Eschenbach, R. Ho, G. P. Murphy, M. Cunningham,
and N. Lin. CA Cancer J Clin 1997 47: 261-264. 4 pages
(pdf 50K) to download the pdf please
click here
For a coplete up-to-date list of
prostate cancer screening and testing available please
go to the NCI website click
here
US GOVERNMENT AND
GENERAL RESOURCES
The Centers for Disease Control
(CDC), the National Cancer
Institute (NCI) and the American
Cancer Society (ACS) provide many
on-line cancer resources. The great advantage of these
organizations is that the information gets constantly
updated, reflecting the latest scientific findings.
On-line texts have an interactive dictionary where
you can click on terms that sound unfamiliar and get
an explanation in plain English. For people without
on-line access these materials can also be ordered
in the mail or by phone.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
is a leader in nationwide cancer prevention and control,
working with national organizations, state health agencies
and other key groups to develop, implement, and promote
effective cancer prevention and control practices.
For additional CDC Prostate Cancer
Publications Available Online (including posters) please
click here
The National Cancer Institute
(NCI)
is a component of the National Institutes
of Health (NIH), one of eight agencies that compose
the Public Health Service (PHS) in the Department of
Health and Human Services (DHHS).
The National Cancer Institute coordinates
the National Cancer Program, which conducts and supports
research, training, health information dissemination,
and other programs with respect to the cause, diagnosis,
prevention, and treatment of cancer, rehabilitation from
cancer, and the continuing care of cancer patients and
the families of cancer patients.
NCI publishes a wealth of information
about cancer on the Web. To make it easier for you we
have provided direct cervical cancer links from NCI below.
PDQ Colorectal Cancer for health
professionals (PDQ, as it is commonly known stands
for Physicians Data Query. The "health professional" link
is more scientific and focuses on treatment options)
MedlinePlus - Prostate Cancer
Link
MedlinePlus will direct
you to information to help answer health questions. MedlinePlus
brings together authoritative information from NLM, the
National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government
agencies and health-related organizations. MedlinePlus
also has extensive information about drugs, an illustrated
medical encyclopedia, interactive patient tutorials,
and latest health news. Please make sure you check the
MedlinePlus online for prostate cancer with an extensive,
constantly updated resource list. Please
click here
American Cancer Society (ACS)
is
the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization
dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem
by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering
from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and
service. For prostate cancer information form ACS please
click here
Cancer
Screening in the United States, 2008: A Review of
Current American Cancer Society Guidelines and Cancer
Screening Issues
Robert A. Smith, Vilma Cokkinides, and Otis Webb Brawley.
CA Cancer J Clin 2008 58: 161-179. 20 pages (pdf 161K),
To download the pdf please
click here
Cancer is a disease in which cells
in the body grow out of control. Cancer is always named
for the part of the body where it starts, even if it
spreads to other body parts later.
FLYERS AND BROCHURES
Prostate cancer – regular
screening can save your life
‘Imi Hale the Native Hawaiian Cancer Network 2007. 2
pages (pdf 176K). To download the pdf please
click here
ASCO ANSWERS: Prostate Cancer
ASCO Answers is a series of fact sheets produced by the
American Society of Clinical Oncology. 2008, 2 pages
(pdf 336K).
The stage is a way of describing the cancer, such as
where it is located, if or where it has spread, and if
it is affecting the functions of other organs in the
body. There are four stages for prostate cancer. Illustrations
for these stages are available at online, please
click here. To download the pdf please
click here
Quality
Assurance & Improvement
The Pacific
Island Health Officers Association (PIHOA) is dedicated to the health and well-being
of the Pacific Island populations.
The links and documents on their
website have been selected from a very large body of
available materials about quality assurance (QA) and
accreditation in health care, with the intention of including
those that are especially useful for PIHOA members and
their associates who are interested in building QA systems
which fit with their local needs. The materials have
been grouped into several sections. To get to the
PIHOA quality assurance site please
click here
