PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA — National Comprehensive Cancer Network released a new patient guide on prostate cancer screening aimed at explaining current screening recommendations and addressing concerns about testing and treatment.
The publication, “NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Prostate Cancer Screening,” is available for free at NCCN.org/patients and through the NCCN Patient Guides for Cancer app.
The guide is based on the organization’s clinical recommendations used by healthcare providers and includes information on screening eligibility, testing methods and follow-up care.
The organization said the guide addresses misconceptions surrounding prostate cancer screening, including concerns about invasive physical exams and overtreatment.
“People are surprised to learn that prostate cancer screening can be done with a simple blood test; there’s almost never a need for an invasive physical exam anymore,” said Preston C. Sprenkle of Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital, chair of the NCCN panel for prostate cancer early detection.
The guidelines divide recommendations into age categories beginning at 40 for higher-risk individuals, 45 to 75 for the general population and a separate category for those older than 75.
According to NCCN, screening aims to identify aggressive prostate cancer before it spreads while limiting unnecessary biopsies and treatment for lower-risk cases.
“The goal with screening is to catch aggressive cancer early so that we can prevent it from spreading,” said Tyler M. Seibert of UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, vice-chair of the NCCN prostate cancer early detection panel.
The organization said current screening approaches increasingly rely on imaging and monitoring strategies to reduce unnecessary procedures.
NCCN and the NCCN Foundation said the prostate cancer screening guide is part of a broader library of 75 patient resources covering cancer treatment, prevention and supportive care.
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