ALL Con.
Did several searches over the last several days. From MD consult database,
1600 plus articles. Not much to speak of which would change how I talk to
patients about screening for prostate cancer. Some studies point the way
toward screeing however tend to ignore lead time biais, but nothing
convincing to suggest the need to adopt a global screening policy.
Anyone with additional input, would be glad to hear from you.
R. Jordan MD
----- Original Message -----
From: "Adrian Freeman" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2001 7:01 AM
Subject: Re: Prostate cancer screening?
> I read it in todays paper with some sadness. Perhaps Wilson and Junger
need
> an additional or overriding criteria about impending elections.
>
> Adrian Freeman
> GP
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Evidence based health (EBH) is the integration of individual
> knowledge [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Toby
> Lipman
> Sent: 25 March 2001 09:30
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Prostate cancer screening?
>
>
> It may be just the clocks going forward, but I'm sure I heard on the
> radio that "men will be able to attend their GP to be screened for
> prostate cancer". I was not aware of any change to the advice given by
> the UK National Screening Committee in 1997 that the low specificity of
> the test available (PSA) and the lack of consensus on appropriate
> management of prostate cancer, particularly in its early stages, meant
> that a screening programme for prostate cancer would fail to meet WHO
> criteria (Wilson and Jungner, WHO paper no 34, 1968).
>
> Is there new evidence that prostate cancer screening meets Wilson and
> Jungner's criteria (below)?
>
> -The condition has a recognisable early phase and early treatment can be
> shown to improve prognosis
>
> -Effective treatment is possible and available
>
> -The test for the condition should be relatively simple, not harmful and
> acceptable to the patient
>
> -The test should achieve a balance between false positives and false
> negatives which is related to the severity of consequences of wrong
> diagnosis both for the health care system and the patient
>
> -Screening must be sustainable once introduced and not just part of a
> limited specific initiative
>
> Toby
> --
> Toby Lipman
> General practitioner, Newcastle upon Tyne
> Northern and Yorkshire research training fellow
>
> Tel 0191-2811060 (home), 0191-2437000 (surgery)
>
> Northern and Yorkshire Evidence-Based Practice Workshops
>
> http://www.eb-practice.fsnet.co.uk/
>
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