Individual risk assessment for prostate cancer

Men worried about prostate cancer have a new online resource, freely available, to help them assess their risk. The multi-step Prostate Cancer Risk Calculator, has been created by the founders of the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC). It is easy and simple for people to use. Men can use the first two calculators to assess their individual risk of developing prostate cancer without needing any medical expertise. The first starts with family history and general health information. The second is for use if you also have the results of a simple blood test to assess the level of prostate specific antigen (PSA). Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men but recent improvements in treatment and diagnosis mean that more men will survive the disease. The on-line resource provides a range of helpful information about the disease, which includes the benefits and disadvantages of going for a PSA test when you do not have symptoms. PSA levels tend to increase as men age and can be a sign of prostate disease, though not always cancer. A further five risk calculators have been created for clinicians to use as part of their clinical practice. They are based on robust evidence gained from research carried out by the ERSPC, the world’s largest study into screening for prostate cancer. They calculate whether clinicians can avoid subjecting men to additional, and invasive, diagnostics tests such as biopsy, or if they can safely be monitored on a more conservative ‘active surveillance’ programme. An additional feature calculates a patient’s risk of having an aggressive form of cancer; and this further helps to decide if a biopsy is needed.

www.prostatecancer-riskcalculator.com