A recent study published in JAMA Network Open found that after ceasing routine prostate cancer screening for all men, the incidence of advanced prostate cancer rose and mortality rates plateaued in most regions of California. The findings highlight the need for more targeted screening methods to identify potentially fatal tumors without raising false alarms.
Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related mortality among US men, with most cases being low-grade and rarely metastasizing. However, some patients are misdiagnosed with aggressive cancers due to the lack of differentiation between tumor types during screening. Without regular screening, opportunities for timely diagnosis and treatment of more advanced cancers, which have a 5-year survival rate of just 37%, can be missed.
The US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) stopped recommending routine prostate cancer screening in 2012, citing concerns over unnecessary interventions such as surgery. However, many men aged 55-69 years still lack discussions with their physicians about the risks and benefits of screening.
Researchers analyzed data from nearly 388,000 men with prostate cancer in California between 2004 and 2021, finding that advanced disease incidence increased by 6.7% per year from 2011 to 2021 compared to national rates. The study also revealed that prostate cancer-related mortality fell by 2.6% per year until 2012 but plateaued in 70% of regions after 2012.
The findings suggest that the current approach to prostate cancer screening is inadequate, and more effective methods are needed to balance the risks and benefits of screening. Lead study author Erin L. Van Blarigan emphasized the need for urgent action to address this issue, stating “without screening, the number of men diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer—when treatments are less effective—increases fast.”
Source: https://ascopost.com/news/february-2025/rising-advanced-prostate-cancer-rates-in-california-follow-changes-to-recommendations