Prostate Screen Australia – Mission Statement
Prostate Screen Australia aims to provide well informed, streamlined and easily accessible testing for prostate cancer. This is undertaken within a framework of specially trained medical practitioners where the sole focus of the medical consultation is the early detection of prostate cancer. Our ultimate aim is that early detection will then lead to a reduction in the mortality from prostate cancer amongst Australian men.
Prostate cancer screening and testing is a complex subject and there has been confusion in our community regarding the effectiveness and benefits of prostate cancer screening. This has resulted in varied and conflicting opinions on the merits of such programs. Recent evidence from international studies has demonstrated that prostate cancer screening can result in a reduction in the mortality from prostate cancer of between 21% and 44%.
The mission of Prostate Screen Australia is to:
- educate men in our community regarding the risks and benefits of prostate cancer testing
- streamline prostate cancer testing using stringent guidelines for testing, referral and subsequent follow up
- make prostate cancer testing streamlined and accessible
- collect data for epidemiological and research purposes
Prostate Screen Australia currently does not recommend mass population-based prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening as a public health policy, but offers health conscious men the opportunity for prostate cancer testing and early diagnosis, in a specialised primary care medical framework. Appropriate informed consent is obtained from men prior to proceeding with prostate cancer testing. Prostate Screen Australia does not wish to take over the role of the patient’s general practitioner but rather work closely with them and in doing so provide an invaluable educational resource and direct avenue for rapid advice.
