The document discusses prostate cancer screening from a patient's perspective, emphasizing the importance of early detection to reduce mortality and advanced disease risk. It highlights the controversy surrounding screening due to issues like over-diagnosis and overtreatment. The author encourages awareness and discussion around the benefits and risks of screening and early detection, aligned with the latest EAU guidelines.

1. Prostate Cancer screening from a patient’s perspective
Paul Enders
Europa Uomo and member
EAU Prostate Cancer Guidelines Panel

2. Screening
• Screening: systematic examination of
asymptomatic men (at risk), initiated by health
authorities
• Early detection is initiated by the patient and/or
his physician.

3. Screening
• Objective of screening and early detection is to reduce
PCa caused mortality and to reduce the risk of
developing advanced and metastatic PCa, which may
be related to a dramatic loss in quality of life.
• Europe-wide, men should be aware of the
importance of early detection.

4. Screening, Points of Criticism
Screening and early detection tests under controversial
discussions
• Not efficient
• Too much over-diagnosis
• Too much overtreatment

5. Comparison of Screening on some Types of Cancer
• Breast Cancer (9 randomised Studies (650 000
participants)
NNS 1792 RRR 22% after 14 years Fletcher: Screening
for BC 2010
NNS other sources: (adjusted to age) 377 to 1339
• Colon Cancer NNS 489 Coloscopy
• Prostate Cancer (ERSPC Rotterdam Section adjusted to
non-attendance, contamination) NNS 293 after 13 years
L. Bokhorst et al., European Urology August 2013

6. Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer (simplified)
PSA
Tastunter-
suchungDRE
Biopsy Decision
Follow up tests
!
Active
Surveillance
Active
Therapy
Watchful
Waiting
Surgery,
Radiotherapy,
medical treatment
Therapy if
progressing
Therapy if
Symptoms

7. EAU guidelines recommendations

8. Screening, early detection
Early detection:
• An early detected tumour
may be cured.
• Treatment with less
undesirable side effects is
possible
• Low risk tumours need no
prompt treatment or no
treatment at all. (Active
Surveillance)
• Risk of overtreatment
No early detection:
• Tumour detected by
symptoms, curative treatment
no longer possible.
• Tumours, curable were missed
• An advanced tumour may
reduce quality of life
• No concern by diagnosis of an
insignificant tumour

9. • Better differentiation between low risk an high risk PCa.
• Improve reliability of biopsy results (imaging).
• Reduce the remaining risk of AS.
EU should promote early detection
diagnosis of men at risk based on the most
recent EAU guidelines for screening and
early detection.
Still to be done

10. TV discussion: Question to an journalist, arguing against
screening and refusing for himself early detection testing:
Assumed, you were diagnosed with an advanced prostate
cancer no longer curable.
Would you regret, that you have not had
early detection tests?
An interesting question

11. Would you regret, that you have not had
early detection tests?
Think about your answer to this question.
Thank you for listening!

12. Thank you for listening !