EAU 2013 - Programme Book - YouMed

Patient perspective
T. Hudson, Dublin (IE)
EAU perspective
P-A. Abrahamsson, Malmö (SE)
12.50 - 13.05 Debate on European PSA screening
P-A. Abrahamsson, Malmö (SE)
J.E. Hugosson, Göteborg (SE)
T. Hudson, Dublin (IE)
Aims and objectives
• Prostate cancer is a major health problem, and the main cause of male cancer deaths. However, current
published data are insufficient to recommend the adoption of population screening for prostate cancer
as a public health policy due to the large over-treatment effect. Before screening is considered by
national health authorities, the level of current opportunistic screening, overdiagnosis, overtreatment,
quality of life, costs, and cost-effectiveness should be taken into account.
• Overdiagnosis of prostate cancer leads potentially to significant overtreatment. Health professionals,
especially urologists, should avoid overtreatment by developing safe methods of cancer surveillance/
monitoring without invasive therapy. Invasive therapies should be tailored to patients’ needs and the
prognosis of cancers diagnosed.
• Current screening algorithms are insufficient for population screening or individual early diagnosis
due to a lack of specificity and lack of selectivity for aggressive cancers which require treatment. The
development of novel diagnostic and prognostic markers and imaging modalities is needed urgently to
enhance the predictive value of screening tools.
• In the absence of population screening, the EAU advises men who consider screening by PSA testing
and prostate biopsy to obtain information on the risks and benefits of screening and individual risk
assessment.
• The European Association of Urology and the ERSPC study group represent essential European
stakeholders to further develop health strategies for prostate cancer screening.
• The EAU promotes the quality of care for prostate cancer patients in Europe in collaboration with the
patient support organization Europa Uomo (www.europa-uomo.org) through the development of
information and guidelines.
• The EAU wishes to support and foster research needed to develop reliable active surveillance protocols
for low-risk prostate cancers, prognostic markers, and targeted therapies in order to deliver optimal
patient care.
13.05 - 13.10 Closing remarks
P-A. Abrahamsson, Malmö (SE)
EAU Milan 2013
319
Tuesday