Background information
If you want to undergo testing for prostate cancer, you should first be informed about the potential benefits and risks of being evaluated. Much information is available on the internet. We recommend that you consult the document "PSA testing for prostate cancer" of Cancer Research UK (www.cancerbacup.org.uk). In addition, the English version of an information brochure published by the Dutch Cancer Society (KWF) is available as an enclosure (Information for men who consider PSA testing). This document has been validated for understanding of the text and in a limited way, also for its effects on decision making. Since the publication of the initial results of the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) in 2009 we now know that PSA driven screening can reduce the chance of dying of prostate cancer in men age 55 – 69 by 20 – 27%. Health care providers in all countries around the world will have to determine possible policy changes. In the meantime early detection measures are available for those men who wish to undergo testing. However the ERSPC data show that screening with currently available test leads to a considerable amount of over diagnosis and potential over treatment. The impact on quality of life and quality of life adjusted life years (QALY’s) is still under study. This risk calculator continues to provide useful information for men who consider screening, decisions should be taken in close cooperation with health professionals.
With the risk calculator, you can determine your chance of finding prostate cancer if you decide to undergo a diagnostic work-up.
Risk calculators 1 and 2 are accessible to the public at large. The other Risk Indicators are intended to be used by urologists only and are for information to other medical doctors (notably general practitioners).
The Prostate risk calculator is only accessible if you have read the information in The Prostate and PSA test.
