At its recent meeting, PCFA's National Board acknowledged that emerging evidence on the benefits and potential harms of testing and subsequent treatment of asymptomatic men for prostate cancer has led many interested parties around the world to revise their guidance on testing using the PSA, or blood, test and Digital Rectal Examination (DRE). PCFA is currently working in partnership with Cancer Council Australia to develop national clinical guidelines on PSA testing and early management of test-detected prostate cancer. The guidelines are being developed using the National Health and Medical Research Council externally developed guidelines standards and procedures. It is expected that the guidelines will be published in late 2014.
In the meantime, PCFA retains its current advice which is that men over age 50, or 40 with a family history of prostate cancer, should talk to their doctor about testing for prostate cancer using the PSA test and DRE as part of their annual health check-up. Men should make an individual informed decision about testing based on the latest available evidence on the benefits and potential harms of testing and subsequent treatment for prostate cancer.
For a full copy of PCFA's policy on testing for prostate cancer click here.
