Men being over-treated for prostate cancer, says charity
The NHS is arguing men for prostate cancer, says a charity, with around 5,000 per year undergoing treatment for cancers, unlikely that it harms damage.
While most cases of prostate cancer need treatment, about one in four is so slow that men can opt for regular monitoring instead, avoiding the side effects of surgery and radiotherapy such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction.
Of the 56,000 diagnosed in the United Kingdom each year, around 6,500 men opt for this, but an analysis of prostate Cancer UK said that 5,000 others could benefit from it.
The charitable organization said that the directives exceeded were to be blamed. The National Institute for Excellence of Health and Care (Nice), which produces them, said that it was examining his advice.
Nice recommends that surveillance, using blood tests and analyzes, be offered to the lowest risk cases in England and Wales, where nine out of 10 will have no sign to spread cancer within five years.
But research suggested that this could be extended to the next lowest risk group where eight out of 10 men will have no sign of cancer spread.
The evidence collected by Prostate Cancer UK suggest that many hospitals have started to offer monitoring to this wider group of patients, but not a quarter.
According to data analysis in England, this seems to have resulted in highlighting rates between 2% and 24% in different hospitals.
The charitable organization estimates that this translates into around 5,000 men per year by obtaining a treatment they do not always need instead of monitoring.
Part of this could be due to the patient’s choice – men generally have the possibility of treatment even if they are at low risk.
But the charity said that if the NHS was more active in the surveillance offer, this could help strengthen the case of prostate cancer screening, which has gained ground since the diagnosis of the Sir Chris Hoy Olympic cyclist.
An argument against screening is that the antigen blood test specific to prostate (PSA), used to identify the potential signs of cancer, is not reliable and leads to unnecessary treatment.
Amy Rylance of Prostate Cancer UK said: “To reduce the damage caused by prostate cancer and build the foundations of a screening program, we must both save lives and prevent unnecessary treatment.”
She said Nice had to update her advice to reflect emerging evidence.
A patient who opted for the follow -up was Michael Lewis, 63, from Dudley in the West Midlands.
He received a diagnosis of prostate cancer in 2020 and, as he was judged at low risk, he opted for follow -up.
Four years later, tests suggested that cancer was aggravated, so he had his prostate removed. He said the treatment delay was so precious.
“I was able to continue my daily life without side effects.”
Nice said the organization examined the prostate cancer guidelines and sought to update them.
“We are committed to ensuring that our guidelines continue to reflect the best available evidence and give patients the best possible results,” said a spokesperson.
