Review the information on prostate screening at the National Cancer Institute's Prostate Cancer ScreeningLinks to an external site. web page.
Choose one of the following scenarios below and recommend a course of action for screening for prostate cancer.
Bill is a 41-year-old male with a family history of prostate cancer. His father and both grandfathers had prostate cancer. Based on the information provided at cancer.gov, should he be screened before the age of 55 for prostate cancer? Why or why not?
Jose is a 70-year-old male with Diabetes Mellitus but otherwise very healthy. Based on the information provided at cancer.gov, should he be screened this year for prostate cancer? Why or why not?
Be sure to respond to at least one of your classmates' posts.
Sample Answer
Based on the National Cancer Institute's information and general guidelines, here are the recommendations for both scenarios:
Bill's Screening Recommendation
Yes, Bill should discuss being screened for prostate cancer with his doctor before the age of 55.
According to the National Cancer Institute and other major health organizations, men with a higher than average risk of prostate cancer should begin discussions about screening at an earlier age. Bill's risk is significantly elevated due to his strong family history; his father and both grandfathers all had the disease. The American Cancer Society, for instance, recommends that men with more than one first-degree relative with prostate cancer before age 65 should start this conversation with a healthcare provider at age 40. Given Bill's age of 41 and his family history, he falls into this high-risk category. Starting the discussion now allows him and his doctor to weigh the potential benefits and harms of screening and create an individualized plan.
Jose's Screening Recommendation
No, Jose should not be routinely screened for prostate cancer this year.
The general consensus among many health organizations, including the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, is that men 70 years and older should not be routinely screened for prostate cancer. While prostate cancer risk increases with age, the benefits of screening often do not outweigh the potential harms in this age group.
The rationale is as follows:
Risk vs. Benefit: At Jose's age, a prostate cancer diagnosis is more likely to be an indolent, slow-growing cancer that would not cause him harm during his lifetime.
Competing Health Issues: Jose has Diabetes Mellitus, which adds to his overall health profile. The potential complications from prostate cancer treatment, such as urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction, may significantly impact his quality of life without providing a substantial survival benefit.
Life Expectancy: The benefits of prostate cancer screening and treatment often take 10 to 15 years to be realized. While Jose is "very healthy" for his age, his life expectancy may not be long enough to benefit from screening. The decision to screen at this age must be a highly individualized one, considering his overall health and personal values