OTTAWA (November 26, 2024) – Outdated recommendations from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care on prostate cancer screening negatively affect the health of many Canadians, especially men at higher risk. The Canadian Urological Association (CUA), which represents urologists and urologic-oncologists across Canada, is calling on the federal government to take urgent action to correct course and shift the focus to effective prevention.
“We need to take a practical approach to prostate cancer screening,” said Dr. Ricardo Rendon, President of the CUA. “Men with risk factors for prostate cancer should be screened at an earlier age. Based on some current screening guidelines, we often see men diagnosed with late-stage prostate cancer that could have otherwise been detected and treated at an early stage.”
Urologists, surgeons who diagnose and treat prostate cancer among other conditions, were not adequately consulted in the development of initial recommendations. Urologists need to play a central role in the implementation of new guidelines that focus on prevention, reflect the real health needs of Canadians, and are informed by experts.
“Ultimately, the goal of screening should be the early detection of clinically significant prostate cancer in healthy men,” said Dr. Fred Saad, Advocacy Chair at the CUA. “Improved screening and early detection practices can limit spread, mitigate negative health outcomes, and reduce the morbidity of advanced and metastatic prostate cancer for Canadians at risk.”
Screening using Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Testing has been shown to reduce prostate cancer mortality rates. In provinces like Ontario, which just lowered the age of mammogram self-referral from 50 to 40, the previous has been set for modernizing and updating screening guidelines to address health needs. The CUA recommends offering PSA screening to men with a life expectancy greater than 10 years. Patients should always discuss the potential risks and benefits of PSA screening with their healthcare providers.
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About: Founded in 1945, the Canadian Urological Association (CUA) is a national, member-based organization dedicated to enabling urologists across Canada with the tools and resources to provide the highest possible standards of care. CUA is a leader in professional development for urologists and fosters excellence through advocacy, education, research, and practical support tools.