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.

We don't yet know the value of screening for prostate cancer in terms of lowering prostate cancer mortality at an acceptable "price" in terms of quality of life and cost. Currently, two large randomised screening studies are going on, the European Randomised Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC), and American Prostate Lung Colon Ovarian screening trial (PLCO). Definitive results from these trials are expected within the coming years. In the meantime, early detection measures are available to those men who wish to be tested. The research group at the Department of Urology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, therefore strongly recommends to consult the two websites mentioned and the information given below before using this risk indicator.

With the risk indicator, you can determine your chance of finding prostate cancer if you decide to undergo a diagnostic work-up.

Risk indicators 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 indicator is only accessible if you have read the information in The Prostate and PSA test.