GP guidance on prostate screening updated

The guidance given to GPs concerning prostate cancer screening has been revised.

In a letter chief medical officer Liam Donaldson says the change was prompted by the publication of two new research papers on prostate cancer screening in the New England Journal of Medicine. 'One of the papers showed that the risk of dying from prostate cancer was reduced amongst those screened by 20%,' said Donaldson 'but around 48 men had to be treated to save one life.' 

In light of this research, the Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme (PCRMP) has revised its resource pack for primary care to help advise men without any symptoms of prostate cancer, who are considering a Prostate Specific Antigen test. Men can have the test free on the NHS, provided they have made an informed choice based on the PCRMP materials and following a GP consultation.

The revised Prostate Information Pack will be distributed to GPs over the summer or they can be downloaded from the Department's website.

• Liam Donaldson's letter (22 July 2009)
• Prostate Information Pack  (updated July 2009)
• Editorial from the New England Journal of Medicine. (26 March 2009)