The Importance of Screening
Prostate cancer, the most common cancer among men and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths, can potentially be mitigated through early screening, specifically by measuring prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in the blood.
The European Randomised Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC), the world's largest study on prostate cancer screening, shows that PSA screening programs can lead to a 20% reduced risk of dying from prostate cancer.
Consequences of Screening Avoidance
Men who consistently avoid prostate cancer screenings are 45% more likely to die from the disease, highlighting a significant risk for non-attenders compared to those who participate in screening.
The analysis, led by researchers from the Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, underscores the need to understand the motivations behind men's choices to skip screenings. This understanding is vital for designing effective population-based prostate cancer screening programs.