Abstract:
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in New Zealand men and is the third cause of male cancer deaths. It accounts for 4.2 per cent of male deaths from any cause in New Zealand.1 In asymptomatic men, prostate cancer screening is a complex and controversial public health issue within New Zealand, generating substantial interest from service providers and consumers. A number of factors are associated with an increased risk of developing prostate cancer (see panel). In 2004, the National Health Committee concluded that, despite the increasing demand for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening, the effectiveness of the PSA test in terms of reduced mortality and morbidity remained inconclusive.2 A systematic review of all levels of current evidence was conducted, which addressed mortality and morbidity associated with PSA testing in asymptomatic (screened) men.3