Are Prostate Cancer Screenings Performed in Compliance with Cancer Guidelines?

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to examine whether our region's Prostate Cancer (PCa) screening programs comply with the European Association of Urology (EAU) Guidelines. Method: This study was conducted as a retrospective, cross-sectional study between April 2014 and July 2022. Two hundred seventy patients who applied to our clinic for various reasons and were diagnosed with PCa were included in the study. Characteristics of the patients, such as age at diagnosis, comorbidities, age at first PSA examination, and PSA values, were recorded. Results: The mean age of the patients at the time of cancer diagnosis was 67.42±8.64 (43-91) years. PSA value (median±IQR) at the diagnosis was 9.58±19.43 (1.83-3437) ng/ml. When the distribution of cancer according to different decades of life was examined, there were 5 (%1.8) patients in the 40-50 age range, 44 (16.1%) in the 50-60 age range, 111 (40.7%) in the 60-70 age range, 86 (31.5%) in the 70-80 age range, and 24 (8.8%) after the age of 80. While 138 patients (51.1%) had local and benign tumor features, 59 (21.9%) patients were diagnosed with metastatic findings. Only 31.3% (61/195) of the patients were under regular follow-up by a specific urology doctor. Conclusion: It was found that the screening of prostate cancer, the most common type of cancer in men, was not performed by the guidelines, and as a result, diagnosis and treatment were delayed. It was determined that many patients lost the chance of curative treatment. In this disease, where early diagnosis is vital for effective treatment and preservation of quality of life, it is essential to follow up with aging men in accordance with the guidelines. It may be beneficial to periodically train and follow up with all health professionals interested in this issue.